More on AIDS for AIDS Awareness month

How does HIV evolve?

HIV evolution in the body does not occur at a constant rate. Rather, the virus's rate of change suddenly slows when the level of crucial immune cells known as CD4+ T-cells falls in a patient.There are several possible reasons for why HIV slows its evolution later in the disease process. One is that there are simply fewer immune cells left for the virus to infect. Another possibility is that since the immune system is no longer as effective targeting the virus, the virus no longer feels the "selective pressure" of the immune system, and the virus slows its evolution in response.

Huh?

Picture a criminal on the lam. When the police are out in force, the criminal must change his disguise more and more to survive, but when fewer police are present, the criminal can change his disguise less often. In the case of HIV, the virus actually eliminates the "police officers" – CD4+ T-cells patrolling the body. As time goes on and fewer immune cells are present to flag HIV, the virus no longer has the need to evolve as rapidly as it did when the cells were out in force.

But I Have a Strong Immune System

In a person with a strong immune system, the virus is constantly on the run – it has to change to survive, but even in a person who has lived with HIV for a decade or more, in most cases, at some point, the immune system weakens. The virus notices and evolves accordingly. It's a very dynamic process.

What's the Research?

While the research shows that the virus is creating fewer new versions of itself late in the disease process, the researchers say the clinical implications of the research are unclear. Since the virus's ability to evolve is at the heart of the drug-resistance capability that makes HIV so deadly, the work could help scientists who are trying to figure out new ways to stop the virus.It's possible that this work would have some implications for their understanding of drug resistance late in the disease process.

When HIV is evolving more slowly in a patient, that patient is less likely to develop resistance to treatment so quickly.

How Does HIV Progress?

Scientists have debated the pace of change of HIV in the body. Some studies have suggested that the virus evolves slowly in people who live many years with HIV before developing AIDS, while other studies showed that the virus evolves quickly in those patients.To address the issue, a team of researchers developed a mathematical and computational model of how HIV evolves in the body.

They tested the model by analyzing the blood from 15 HIV patients whose blood was sampled every few months for anywhere from three to 12 years. The data came from the HIV Sequence Database at Los Alamos National Laboratory, which holds more than 250,000 genetic sequences of HIV from patients around the globe.

What Did the Test Show?

The team found that the when the immune system is relatively healthy, the HIV virus evolves at a constant and rapid rate, but when a patient's CD4+ cells decrease, HIV's rate of evolution slows. The shift occurs long before a patient is considered to have AIDS, which is indicated when the CD4+ level drops to 200 cells per microliter of blood. The finding was true of 13 of 15 of the patients.The team focused its attention on 600 nucleotides of the RNA that make up HIV's env gene, which codes for the protein's outer envelope that the virus uses to bind onto the cells of the host. In the team's study, on average, slightly less than one mutation per month occurred per patient in this swath of the HIV genome during the time when CD4+ levels were relatively high and the rate of change was constant.

And That Means?

That's a very rapid rate of change for one small portion of a virus, especially one so prolific: Every day, the HIV virus population in an infected person – up to 10 billion viral particles – copies itself and recreates 95 percent of its particles. With all that reproducing, and without a high regard for accuracy, one change leads to another, and the results are astounding: Most patients have literally many thousands of different types of HIV virus in their bodies."

Every single person on Earth who is infected with HIV has his or her own unique HIV population," said Leitner (who was involved in the research).As the virus mutates, giving birth to viral offspring called quasispecies, it presents an ever-changing face to the immune system, which is continually adapting itself to keep up with the onslaught. The immune system does a remarkable job fending off the assault, killing most of the viral particles every day. Even so, some of the virus is able to elude the body's defenses and ultimately devastates the immune system in most patients.

HIV / AIDS FAQ - World AIDS Day 2008

How does a person get HIV/AIDS?

Many of the myths about HIV/AIDS include how you get it.

In general, the spread of HIV/AIDS involves an exchange of bodily fluids between an infected and an uninfected person. How does this happen? Accidental needle sticks or splashes of blood can result in HIV/AIDS infection. This is why you see doctors, dentists, nurses, emergency medical personnel, hospital staff and athletic trainers taking precautions against spreading the virus. Precautions include wearing surgical masks and gloves.But, for the most part, the spread of HIV/AIDS results from the kind of high-risk behaviors described in the section:

What are the risk factors for HIV/AIDS?

HIV/AIDS may be transmitted by:Having unprotected sex (sex without a latex condom) with a person who is HIV-positive. The virus can be in an infected person's blood, semen, or vaginal fluids and can enter your body through tiny cuts or sores in your skin, or in the lining of your vagina, penis, rectum or mouth. Sharing needles and syringes to inject drugs, or sharing drug equipment used in preparing those drugs with someone who has HIV. Receiving HIV-infected blood or blood products before 1985. Since 1985, all blood used for transfusions in the United States has been tested for HIV and is generally considered safe. Carrying, giving birth to or breast-feeding a child while HIV positive.

You cannot get HIV:

From dry kisses (closed-mouthed kisses) or hugs
From donating blood
By working with or being around someone who has HIV
From sweat, spit, tears, clothes, drinking fountains, phones, toilet seats, or having a meal together
From insect bites or stings

How do I know I have HIV/AIDS? What are the symptoms?

The only way to know for sure whether you are infected is to be tested. This involves a blood test.You cannot rely on symptoms to know whether you are infected with HIV. About half the people who are infected have flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks of having been exposed to HIV. However, just as many people infected by HIV do not have any symptoms at all for many years.Over time, as the immune system weakens, maybe over months or years, symptoms begin to develop.

The following may be warning signs of HIV infection:

rapid weight loss
dry cough
fevers or night sweats
extreme tiredness
swollen lymph glands in the armpits, groin, or neck
diarrhea that lasts for more than a week
frequent yeast infections (oral or vaginal)
pelvic inflammatory disease in women that does not respond to treatment
pneumonia
persistent skin rashes or flaky skin
short-term memory loss

Do not assume you are infected if you have any of these symptoms. Each of these symptoms can be related to other illnesses. The only way to determine whether you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection.

HIV tests do not actually test for the virus, but test for antibodies to the virus. Antibodies are made by the body's white blood cells to fight infection. If these antibodies are present in your blood, you are HIV-positive and need treatment.If you think you have been exposed to HIV, it is important to be tested as soon as possible, whether you have symptoms or not. The sooner you can get treatment, the less your immune system will be damaged. Unfortunately, the antibodies to the virus don't appear right away. It can take eight to twelve weeks for the antibodies to show up in a test.

AIDS look for opportunistic infections

What are some of the “opportunistic infections” and side effects linked to HIV/AIDS?

AIDS-Related Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)
Anemia
Bacterial Pneumonia
Oral Candidiasis (Thrush)
Vaginal Candidiasis
Cervical Cancer
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Herpes virus
Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS)
Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC)
Menstrual Problems
Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP)
Toxoplasmosis (Toxo)
Tuberculosis (TB)

HIV/AIDS: Questions to Ask the Doctor (Health A to Z)

This site lists questions to ask doctors if you have just tested positive or been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

Treatment & care: Questions to ask your doctor (British HIV Association and International HIV/AIDS Alliance)

Treatments: Questions to ask your doctor covers basic information about AIDS medications. What to expect, what the drug looks like, how to take it, side effects, and relief of side effects are discussed. Answers tell you how and where to get more information.

Office Visit Checklist (Mdchoice.com)

Office Visit Checklist is a checklist for your regular appointments. Use it to help you remember what to ask your doctor about on your next visit.

The Nine (9) Serious STDS

The latest estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that there are approximately 19 million new STD infections each year, with almost half of those occurring in teens and young adults ages 15 to 24. Almost half of women have a sexual problem of some sort, according to a report today from HealthDay. Since sexually transmitted diseases often are announced only by nonspecific signs (like abdominal pain and fever), they may easily be mistaken for other illnesses—and that means the number of cases may actually be much higher.

That's not good, say experts: Certain STDs, undiagnosed and untreated, can wreak havoc, bringing serious and even life-threatening consequences.

Here's a list of nine serious STDs—and one that's just a nuisance:

1. Chlamydia. Nicknamed the "silent disease," chlamydia often does its damage unnoticed; indeed, it produces virtually no symptoms in about half the men and three quarters of the women who get it, according to the CDC. But that can mean trouble, especially for women: Infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease,and dangerous ectopic pregnancies can result if the infection isn't stopped with antibiotics. While men rarely experience complications, the infection can spread to the tube that shuttles sperm, leading to pain, fever, and a remote chance of sterility. Once a woman has been infected with chlamydia, she is up to five times more likely to contract HIV if exposed to the virus. To avoid serious problems, the CDC urges—at a minimum— annual screening tests for all sexually active women ages 25 and under, as well as tests for all pregnant women. A mother's untreated chlamydia infections can invade a newborn's eyes and respiratory tract, which is why it's the leading cause of pink eye and pneumonia in infants, according to the CDC.

2. Syphilis. Once thought to be nearly eradicated in the United States, syphilis has staged a comeback in the past decade. It is most common among men with same-sex partners, although women, too, can become infected. Syphilis typically unfolds in stages, the first of which is marked by a small, often painless sore that may heal on its own (it is through direct contact with syphilis sores that the bacterial infection is spread.) If untreated, a rash of red-brown spots may pock the palms of hands and soles of feet, a sign that the infection has progressed to its second stage. Fever, swollen glands, a sore throat, hair loss, headaches, and other symptoms of this stage may emerge and resolve on their own. Without treatment, however, late-stage syphilis will develop. This can take up to 20 years, but it can involve such extensive damage to vital organs like the brain, heart, blood vessels, nerves, liver, bones, and joints that a person can't survive.

3. Genital Human Papillomavirus. It's a common complaint but should not be taken lightly: Although 90 percent of cases will be resolved by a person's own immune system within two years, some of the 40-plus HPV strains that infect the genitals boost the risk of certain cancers, according to the CDC. Cervical cancer, for one, can be especially dangerous because it tends not to produce symptoms until it's quite advanced. More rarely, HPV infections can lead to vulvar, vaginal, anal, or penile cancer. Since the infection is caused by a virus, there is no treatment (although warts can be removed by medications or physicians). Regular Pap tests and exams are recommended to flag signs of cancer before it can develop. Gardasil, a vaccine that can protect women against some of the strains linked to cervical cancer, is recommended for some women.

4. Gonorrhea. Like chlamydia, this common bacterial STD can progress silently, leaving people with intractable health problems. Symptoms such as discolored penile discharge or signs that mimic those of a bladder or vaginal infection may occur. Unnoticed and untreated, gonorrhea can cause infertility in both men and women. It is also a common culprit behind pelvic inflammatory disease. Once treated with antibiotics, people can be re-infected by untreated partners.

5. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Pelvic inflammatory disease occurs when the uterus, fallopian tubes, or other female reproductive organs become invaded by infection-causing bacteria. Two common culprits are chlamydia and gonorrhea. Each year, more than 100,000 women are left infertile by an untreated case of PID, which can be cured with antibiotics, according to the CDC. PID can lead to lifelong pelvic pain and pus-filled internal abscesses and can raise the odds of ectopic pregnancies. Suspicious vaginal discharge, painful sex or urination, and bleeding between periods may all be signs that something is awry.

6. Trichomoniasis. A one-celled parasite causes this STD, and a frothy, odorous, greenish-yellow discharge can be a sign that a woman has it. Infected men don't usually show signs, though some may experience abnormal penile discharge or pain after urinating or ejaculating. Trichomoniasis can make women more likely to contract HIV if exposed and may increase the likelihood that an HIV-infected woman will transmit HIV to her partner. Trichomoniasis is curable with medications.

7. Genital Herpes. Some victims have bouts of painful genital sores, but many who are infected with genital herpes are unaware because symptoms may be absent or confused with the flu. Caused by two types of the herpes simplex virus, genital herpes has no cure, though antiviral medications may help manage the severity of outbreaks. Because it's a chronic infection, genital herpes can be psychologically distressing for those infected and can cause potentially deadly infections in babies if transmitted from a mother. Transmission from mother to baby is rare, but freshly acquired genital herpes late in pregnancy can boost the risk, says the CDC.

8. HIV. The virus that causes AIDS can lie dormant with no signs for over a decade, though
symptoms include extreme fatigue, swollen lymph glands, persistent diarrhea, dry cough, rapid weight loss, pneumonia, night sweats, and a recurring fever. While any of these symptoms alone may not be cause for alarm, since they could be caused by a slew of other illnesses, the only way to be sure is to be tested, advises the CDC. Untreated, HIV can cripple the immune system. The infection may not ever advance to AIDS, but if it does, it can be deadly. While drugs can halt the progression of the virus, no cure exists. Click here to learn more about the prevalence of HIV infections among black women or here to read about one young woman's battle with HIV.

9. Chancroid. This bacterial infection is quite common in Africa and Asia and is also infecting Americans. Chancroid can cause ulcer-like genital sores that are often accompanied by swollen lymph nodes around the groin. Like many STDs, untreated chancroid makes it easier to acquire and spread HIV.

10. Crabs. Days after sex or intimate contact, the intense itching may start—a sign that these blood-sucking parasites may have chosen an unfortunate place to call home. The tiny lice typically spread by moving from one person's pubic hair to a partner's, although it is possible to acquire crabs from clothing, furniture, or bedding. The critters can survive without a human host for about 24 hours.

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Erection FAQs

What causes an erection?

Well, whatever turns you on basically but the hard science is this:

Erections occur when the small muscles in your peni*, which are usually tightly contracted, relax and let blood start flowing in.

The spongy tissue in the peni* fills with blood and expands, pushing against the veins and closing them so the blood cannot drain out again.

Well, you did ask.

Why can't I get an erection?

There are two things that men complain about in the erection department – not getting one when you want one and getting one when you don’t want one.

Not getting an erection when you want one is usually called erectile dysfunction (ED) or sometimes impotence. ED is a better description because the problem can usually be solved. In fact, nearly all men suffer from ED from time to time. The official estimate is that impotence affects about one in ten men at any one time. (Incidence increases from about one in 13 in men under 30 to one in two in men over 70.) But some surveys have put it as high as one in four.

It’s no big deal. It’s one of the things about being a flesh and blood human rather than a robot. Blokes who expect their peni* to work like machines have not learned that yet. Don’t worry about it but don't ignore it either. If it keeps happening, see a doctor.

Why see a doctor about a bit of brewer's droop?

Simply because ED can be an early warning of some serious health problems including:

heart disease;
narrow arteries;
high blood pressure;
diabetes;
Peyronie’s Disease;
multiple sclerosis;
an injury to the pelvis or spinal cord;
heavy drinking or smoking;
drugs - either the side effects of prescribed drugs (for example, some antidepressants and drugs for hypertension) or the abuse of non-prescribed drugs.
Low testosterone levels are seldom the cause of ED.
Research suggests that men don’t seek help with ED because they don’t think it can be treated. This is not true. There are many causes of ED, some physical, some psychological. You can read all about them here.

There is usually a physical cause for ED – it is only purely psychological in about 25% cases - but whatever the cause worrying about sexual performance can make it worse. Anxiety contracts the muscles preventing blood entering the peni*.

If you get erections at night or when masturbating but have problems with your partner, it’s almost certainly not a physical problem so just relax. Chances are you’ll live to at least 80 so there’s plenty of time.

And, as usual, smoking is a no-no. Nicotine interferes with the flow of blood to the peni* making an erection less likely. Smokers are 50-80% more likely to become impotent than non-smokers.

I’ve got an erection all the time.

Getting erections all the time may not sound like a problem but it can be. Young men can get sexually excited very easily so have a lot of erections. This can be embarrassing but it’s not a problem and when you’re older you’ll probably remember the days fondly.

However, if your penis becomes hard for long periods or when you’re not sexually excited you may have a condition called priapism. The condition is painful, and requires prompt treatment to avoid the risk of permanent damage to the penis and ED in the future. (As a guide, any man whose erection continues for four hours or more, should see a doctor.) More on priapism.

Where can I find out more about drugs like Cialis and Viagra that help you get an erection?

That's easy. XLPharmacy has got those medications. But as with all drugs some can be dangerous and have side-effects, please don't self-prescribe, talk to your doctor first. Then come back and find the lowest price FDA approved erectile dysfunction medications online right here if that is what he or she prescribes.

Red Wine Lowers Lung Cancer Risk

Enjoying a glass or two of red wine daily may slash your risk of developing lung cancer by 60 percent if you’re a smoker. A study published in the October issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, found that moderate consumption of red wine lowered the risk of lung cancer in men.

“An antioxidant compound in red wine may be protective of lung cancer, particularly among smokers,” said Chun Chao, Ph.D., a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente Department of Research and Evaluation in Pasadena, California.

The study collected information on over 84,000 men aged 45 to 69 years old in California’s health care system. Scientists measured the effects of beer, white wine, red wine and liquor on the risk of developing lung cancer. Factors such as race, education, body mass index, and smoking history were also considered.

The researchers found that for every glass of red wine consumed each month, the risk of developing lung cancer dropped by two percent. The biggest reduction was seen in smokers who drank one or two glasses of red wine daily. Their risk was reduced by 60 percent. Beer, white wine and liquor had no measureable effect.

“Red wine is known to contain high levels of antioxidants,” said Chao. “Red wine is known to contain high levels of antioxidants. There is a compound called resveratrol that is very rich in red wine because it is derived from the grape skin. This compound has shown significant health benefits in preclinical studies.”

Researchers warn that their findings shouldn’t encourage heavy drinking and also noted that even smokers who drank red wine had a higher risk of lung cancer than non-smokers.

Lindberg - Woman’s Food Guide to Great Sex

We just read an article that made a lot of sense and wanted to share it with you.

Marrena Lindberg, author of Orgasmic Sex states that eating the right food can help women achieve full sexual satisfaction. (Cold it be this easy?)

Lindberg claims a healthy diet supplemented by high-grade fish oil can increase women’s enjoyment of sex in as little as two weeks. In addition to fish oil, she suggests supplements of magnesium, iron, multivitamins, and even a piece of dark chocolate every day.

She says that a balanced diet will contribute to healthy serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, and says fish oil boosts dopamine and improves overall circulation. She suggests eating a moderate amount of foods containing saturated fat because she thinks they help maintain a woman’s testosterone level. As she put it, “Quite simply, free testosterone puts a tiger in your tank.”

She also recommended strengthening exercises for the pubococcygeus muscle, which is the muscle that controls urine flow and contracts during sex. She says many women know these exercises as “Kegels.”

She says to avoid caffeine, herbal stimulants, foods high in sugars and starches, hormonal birth control, soy, antidepressants, and omega-6 fatty acids. She recommends consulting a physician before starting the diet because fish oil can act like a blood thinner in the amounts she suggests, which for a woman weighing 130 pounds is a daily dose 1700 mg of EPA and 1300 of DHA.

This makes all the sense in the world, and it's so easy that it's definitly worth the little effort it would take to find out.

Honey Kills Bacteria That Cause Sinusitis

Honey is very effective in killing bacteria in all its forms, especially the drug-resistant biofilms that make treating chronic rhinosinusitis difficult. A recent study, by Canadian researchers found that honey was significantly more effective in killing both planktonic and biofilm-grown forms of the bacteria, compared with the rate of bactericide by antibiotics commonly used against the bacteria.
Given the historical uses of honey in some cultures as a homeopathic treatment for bad wound infections, the researchers concluded that this new information may hold important clinical implications in the treatment of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis, with topical treatment a possibility.
Chronic rhinosinusitis affects approximately 31 million people each year in the United States alone, costing over $4 billion in direct health expenditures and lost workplace productivity. It is among the three most common chronic diseases in all of North America.

Meditation Slows AIDS Progression

They tested a stress-lowering program called mindfulness meditation, defined as practicing an open and receptive awareness of the present moment, avoiding thinking of the past or worrying about the future. The more often the volunteers meditated, the higher their CD4 T-cell counts — a standard measure of how well the immune system is fighting the AIDS virus. The CD4 counts were measured before and after the two-month program. "This study provides the first indication that mindfulness meditation stress-management training can have a direct impact on slowing HIV disease progression," David Creswell, who led the study, said in a statement. His team tested 67 HIV-positive adults from the Los Angeles area, 48 of whom did some or all of the meditation. Most were likely to have highly stressful lives, Creswell said. "The average participant in the study was male, African American, homosexual, unemployed and not on ARV (antiretroviral) medication," they wrote in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. The meditation classes included eight weekly two-hour sessions, a day-long retreat and daily home practice. "The people that were in this class really responded and just really enjoyed the program," Creswell said. "The mindfulness program is a group-based and low-cost treatment, and if this initial finding is replicated in larger samples, it's possible that such training can be used as a powerful complementary treatment for HIV disease, alongside medications," he added. "One of the main side-effects of this particular treatment was an increase in their quality of life," Creswell said.

Read more at XLPharmacy-Canada or XLPharmacyBlog

Better way to perform a mammogram

Radiologists have devised a better way to perform a mammogram, called digital tomosynthesis. An X-ray tube moves in an arc around the breast, capturing several images. The information is then sent to a computer, which produces clear, highly focused 3-dimensional images of the breast.One out of seven women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Up until now, a mammogram has been the best hope for early detection. But mammograms can be uncomfortable and difficult to read. Now, new technology may change all that.
The radiologists can look at it like pages of a book, looking at one area of the breast in isolation. Traditional mammograms only take two angles of the breast. Depending on breast size, tomosynthesis takes at least 11 different angles. Another bonus -- tomosynthesis uses less compression than traditional mammograms and that means less pain for the patient. Doctors are awaiting FDA approval. The cost of the test is expected to be about the same as a traditional mammogram.
The technique is currently being reviewed by the FDA and should be commercialized within the year. It is easy to implement in any centers that currently provide mammography, with no necessary extra training for technicians to interpret results.
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Cited: The American Association of Physicists in Medicine

XLPharmacy Discusses Risky Behavior

We all want to age gracefully and maintain a healthy body. But to do this, discipline is key and avoiding risky behaviors is essential. A risky behavior is anything that increases your risk of a disabling disease or death. So there are some obvious things: driving too fast, driving while intoxicated, unprotected sex or frequent non-mutually monogamous sex, drinking too much. One could even say that a risky behavior is eating too much saturated fat or not doing physical activities. So you can go the full range.

Another dangerous habit is cigarette smoking. What's predictable with tobacco is it ages your arteries. When we say "ages your arteries" that means heart disease, stroke, memory loss, most impotence and decay in orgasm quality, and even wrinkling of the skin. Although one drink can provide some healthy benefits, drinking too much alcohol can be hazardous to your health. When you get to over three drinks a day, you're aging yourself. Not only do you damage to your cells of your brain, your neurons of your brain, but you also expose yourself to a lot of other risky behaviors.

Making sure that you are practicing responsible sexual behavior is crucial. Sexually transmitted diseases are socioeconomically equal-opportunity infection. And everyone is at risk for it. So that's why it is responsible to use condoms wisely and every time. Once hooked on a high-risk behavior it's not easy to stop. But there are steps that can lead you in the right direction. It's very tough to quit any of the high-risk behaviors without a social support structure and without a serious plan. Aging is inevitable, but if you want to hold on to your youth, be good to your body and curb risky behaviors.

Risky Behavior Video
Adapted from materials provided by
ScienceDaily.com

Taking Your Medications Safely

Prescription medications save lives and help improve the quality of life for many people. But medicines can also pose a danger when they are not used correctly.

Prescription drug errors are a major problem and potentially touch the lives of all Americans. By one estimate, there are about a quarter of a million medication errors committed per year in the outpatient setting alone.

Errors can be relatively insignificant: minor side effects that a patient wasn't warned about. Or more serious: A patient may end up taking the wrong medication, or the wrong dose, or no medicine at all.

The biggest cause of prescription drug errors, is a lack of communication. And that's a lack of communication between physicians and nurses, physicians and patients and families, patients and families and patients and nurses.

That's why experts say: Ask lots of questions. It's the first item on a medicine safety checklist prepared by the US government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Many people are reluctant to ask questions, because it's very, very clear that doctors and all healthcare professionals are very pressed for time these days. Oftentimes, people, think of a question after they leave, and then it's not really clear who to call.

Often doctors don't know all the medicines a patient is taking. So the second item on the safety checklist is: Bring them in.

Watch the Video here!

XLPharmacy Canada

Paying to much for your medications video

Paying to much for your medications? Be sure to watch this informative video from Yahoo News!

PRESCRIPTIONS VIDEO

Are you overpaying for your medications? Be sure to watch this video from Yahoo News On the Price of your Prescriptions.

New Research on Sex - Quality over Quantity

Satisfactory sexual intercourse for couples lasts from 3 to 13 minutes, contrary to popular fantasy about the need for hours of sexual activity, according to a survey of U.S. and Canadian sex therapists.

A recent study done by Penn State Erie researchers Eric Corty and Jenay Guardiani conducted a survey of 50 full members of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research, which include psychologists, physicians, social workers, marriage/family therapists and nurses who have collectively seen thousands of patients over several decades.

Thirty-four, or 68 % of the group responded and rated a range of time amounts for sexual intercourse, from penetration of the vagina by the penis until ejaculation, that they considered adequate, desirable, too short and too long.

The average therapists' responses defined the ranges of intercourse activity times: "adequate," from 3-7 minutes; "desirable," from 7-13 minutes; "too short" from 1-2 minutes; and "too long" from 10-30 minutes." A man's or woman's interpretation of his or her sexual functioning as well as the partner's relies on personal beliefs developed in part from society's messages, formal and informal," the researchers said. "

"Unfortunately, today's popular culture has reinforced stereotypes about sexual activity. Many men and women seem to believe the fantasy model of large penises, rock-hard erections and all-night-long intercourse."Past research has found that a large percentage of men and women, who responded, wanted sex to last 30 minutes or longer."

This seems a situation ripe for disappointment and dissatisfaction," said lead author Eric Corty, associate professor of psychology. "With this survey, we hope to dispel such fantasies and encourage men and women with realistic data about acceptable sexual intercourse, thus preventing sexual disappointments and dysfunctions."

Corty and Guardiani, then-undergraduate student and now a University graduate, are publishing their findings in the May issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine, but the article is currently available online.The survey's research also has implications for treatment of people with existing sexual problems."If a patient is concerned about how long intercourse should last, these data can help shift the patient away from a concern about physical disorders and to be initially treated with counseling, instead of medicine," Corty noted.

Adapted from materials provided by Penn State

Reclaiming Your Sexual Life: Treatment Strategies for Erectile Dysfunction

What are my choices? What options do I have when it comes to Erectile Dysfunction?

Watch Video

XLPharmacy Shares Article on Blueberries Reversing Memory Problems

If you are getting forgetful as you get older, then a research team from the University of Reading and the Peninsula Medical School in the South West of England may have good news for you.
They have found that phytochemical-rich foods, such as blueberries, are effective at reversing age-related deficits in memory, according to a study soon to be published in the science journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine. The researchers working at the Schools of Food Biosciences and Psychology in Reading and the Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences at the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter supplemented a regular diet with blueberries over a 12-week period, and found that improvements in spatial working memory tasks emerged within three weeks and continued throughout the period of the study.

Blueberries are a major source of flavonoids, in particular anthocyanins and flavanols. Although the precise mechanisms by which these plant-derived molecules affect the brain are unknown, they have been shown to cross the blood brain barrier after dietary intake. It is believed that they exert their effects on learning and memory by enhancing existing neuronal (brain cell) connections, improving cellular communications and stimulating neuronal regeneration.
The enhancement of both short-term and long-term memory is controlled at the molecular level in neurons. The research team was able to show that the ability of flavonoids to induce memory improvements are mediated by the activation of signalling proteins via a specific pathway in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls learning and memory.

This innovative research was conducted by a multidisciplinary research team led by Dr. Jeremy Spencer, a lecturer in Molecular Nutrition at the University of Reading and included Dr. Claire Williams, a Psychologist also from Reading and Dr. Matt Whiteman, a Principal Investigator at the Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Peninsula Medical School. Dr Spencer commented: “Impaired or failing memory as we get older is one of life’s major inconveniences. Scientists have known of the potential health benefits of diets rich in fresh fruits for a long time. Our previous work had suggested that flavonoid compounds had some kind of effect on memory, but until now we had not known the potential mechanisms to account for this”.

Dr. Whiteman added "This study not only adds science to the claim that eating blueberries are good for you, it also provides support to a diet-based approach that could potentially be used to increase memory capacity and performance in the future. Indeed, Dr. Spencer’s research team plan on extending these findings further by investigating the effects of diets rich in flavonoids on individuals suffering from cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.”

Reference: NewsMax

XLPharmacyCanada

Taking Medication Options Away from Seniors Again?

President Bush last weekend called on Congress to pass legislation that would restrict the online sales of prescription drugs, but the president's request addresses a symptom and not the cause of one of the country's top medical problems...again. The majority of online medication buyers are not teens. They are middle to lower class seniors who can't afford US drug prices. Many U.S. residents, including many seniors and folks with chronic conditions, obtain prescription drugs from international sources not because they're scratching some itch for faraway places, but because "they can't afford U.S. drug prices." This legislation is nothing more then another attempt to ensure US Pharmacy's recieve all the monies they feel entitled to, whether our Seniors can afford them or not. They charge outragiously, and the prices keep going up. Since 2001 medication prices for Americans have gone up more then 50%. Those on medicare are having a hard enough time now, especially once they reach the so called "doughnut hole", where coverage lapse occurs and it's now out of pocket to these folks.

Until the U.S. can extend health coverage to everyone and limit drug prices to reasonable levels, many Americans have no choice but to seek the best possible deal for their medications, and the ability to purchase them at a reputable online pharmacy is an option, whether it's from Canada or another country that uses the same pharmaceutical makers as the US does. US lawmakers need to understand Internet drug sales because, straight up, you can't punish people for trying to make up for shortfalls of the U.S. health care system.
It should be a law that every congressmen live in the poor house, or sleep under a bridge for a night, or even go hungry for a day. Then maybe they wouldn't forget how hard it is to decide whether you get food or medication today.

Clearly there need to be safeguards to prevent people from purchasing potentially dangerous drugs without a prescription, the "obvious place to start" is in Canada, as so many people already shop for prescription drugs there. At the same time, U.S. and Canadian officials should negotiate a treaty that permits U.S. doctors to fax or electronically transfer prescriptions to Canadian pharmacies. This wouldn't necessarily solve the problem of uninsured Americans being unable to afford doctor visits, but it would allow seniors to get the medications they need.

Lemon Germs - A Must Read

Here is a Video link we think is a must see:

LEMON GERMS

We just finished reading a story from MSNBC about Lemon Germs. We all know that it is fairly common for waiters and waitresses in restaurants to put a lemon slice on the edge of our favorite drink. But do you really know how these lemons have been handled before they got to the edge of your glass? A professor of science wanted to find out. Her name is Anne LaGrange Loving.

She began her investigation after she saw a waitress’ fingertips dip into her soda as the drink was being brought to her table. Although lemon juice is known to kill germs, she decided right then and there to devise a study to see whether the lemon slices being put on her drinks contained germs.

She used sterile collection swabs, and took two samples from each from 76 lemons that were served on her glass in North Jersey restaurants.

A total of 25 different types of germs were found on 53 out of the 76 lemons that she tested. Some had fecal matter on them(either from dirty fingertips of the restaurant employees, or from meat-contaminated cutting boards and knives), while other types of germs she found are commonly found in saliva, on the skin and in the environment.

One sample had six different microorganisms on it, three of which are found in fecal material. Although some lemon slices had germs either only on the rind or only on the pulp, 29 percent had germs on both sites.

Be sure to read the full report at MSNBC

The full report of the investigation is in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of Environmental Health.

We feel this is a must read...be sure to watch the video!

XLPharmacy Has the Top 50 Best Hospitals List

To be listed among America's 50 Best Hospitals, facilities must have demonstrated clinical outcomes among the top five percent in the nation, not just in one medical specialty, but aggregated across 27 different procedures and diagnoses, and must have maintained this superior level of care during all years studied.

These hospitals were found to have an average 27 percent lower mortality rate, on average, than all other U.S. hospitals.For the second consecutive year, the HealthGrades America's 50 Best Hospitals list contains nationally known facilities, such as Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. But the list also identifies many hospitals that do not have national brand names, but that continue to demonstrate patient outcomes that are superior to their peers across the country.

Access List Here (Actual list begins on pages 7-8)

A New Way to Attack HIV – With a Parasite Drug

A drug already used to treat parasitic infections, and once looked at for cancer, also attacks the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in a new and powerful way, according to new research.
Past research has established that HIV has "learned" to hide out in certain human cells where it is safe from the body's counterattack, cells that come to serve as viral reservoirs. Operating from these havens, the virus slowly builds its numbers over more than a decade until it finally becomes capable of dismantling human immune defenses. In the end stages, this process leaves patients vulnerable to the opportunistic infections of AIDS. The newly published work explains for the first time how the virus makes chemical changes that keep its chosen reservoirs alive long past their normal lifespan. The new study also provides the first evidence that an existing ant-parasite drug can reverse this deadly longevity.

These results are profound because, in discovering exactly how HIV hides in the body, this could help us take away its hiding places.

*This research was published online in the open access journal Retrovirology January 30, 2008.
Adapted from materials provided by University of Rochester Medical Center.

Tooth infection causing hair loss?

Did you know that a tooth infection could cause hair loss? A recent article we ran across by the University of Granada, advises going to the dentist when patients notice localized hair loss, in order to receive a careful examination of their oral health.

There is a close relationship between infection outbreaks on teeth and the presence of alopecia areata or localized alopecia, a type of hair loss which has an unknown origin. Alopecia areata starts with bald patches on the scalp, and sometimes elsewhere on the body. The disease occurs in males and females of all ages, and experts believe that it affects 1 out 1000 people.

Alopecia areata is a dermatitis which presents the following signs: The typical pattern is for one or more round bald patches to appear on the scalp, in the beard, or in the eyebrows, or to undergo a loss of eyelashes. Alopecia areata is thought to be an auto-immune disease.

(Read more at Science Daily)

Medicare Part D and C Statement Errors

As if the Part D Medicare prescription drug program hasn't created enough bureaucratic headaches around the holidays for American seniors, here's one more problem.

This mistake will affect many retirees who have deductions for Medicare Part D or Part C deducted from their Social Security checks.

The Social Security Administration has sent out a notice that 2.7 million of its 53 million beneficiaries received incorrect information on their SSA-1099 tax forms.

The SSA apologized for the programming error and said it would be sending out corrected statements by Jan. 25.

The programming error caused the 2006 Part C and Part D payments to be included in the 2007 data. That means the Social Security numbers won't jive with those reported to the IRS.

In some cases, the Social Security statement will show more income than was actually paid, he said. In others, there will be an error in the amount withheld for Part D, which will affect a taxpayer's itemized deductions.

Seniors should be advised to wait to file their income taxes until they receive a corrected statement, if they get one.