Deficiencies in testosterone linked to cardiovascular disease in men

Testosterone, an androgen, does not only play a role in the development of male sexual characteristics but also has other beneficial effects on men’s health.

In the Journal of Andrology, several published articles suggested a link between androgen deficiencies and increased mortality in men.

Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) think that this is still a debatable issue because androgens allegedly cause prostate cancer in men.

BUSM researchers worked in collaboration with a research team from Lahey Clinic Northshore, Peabody, Massachusetts. They evaluated several of these articles linking androgen hormones and cardiovascular disease. They found that there indeed is a relationship between androgen deficiency and cardiovascular disease.

According to Dr. Abdulmaged M. Traish, lead author, professor of biochemistry and urology, and the director of Laboratories for Sexual Medicine, Institute for Sexual Medicine at BUSM, the relationship could suggest androgen replacement therapy as a possible treatment to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in hypogonadal men. However, careful monitoring must be done to ensure prevention of prostate cancer.

Traish added that further clinical trials, which are long-termed, large, double blind, randomized and placebo controlled must be conducted to further establish and prove the efficiency of androgen in decreasing incidence of cardiovascular disease in men.

From new Kerala:

The deficiency of steroid hormones called androgens, such as testosterone, may be behind cardiovascular disease, according to a study.

John Hopkins experts call for greater caution for prescribing inhaled corticosteroids

Lung disease experts at Johns Hopkins have made a call for greater caution for prescribing inhaled corticosteroids to people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The call came after sufficient evidence was found by the experts that inhaled corticosteroids enhance the risk of pneumonia by a full third.

It is believed that more than 11 million Americans are living with COPD and a vast majority of this population belongs to the former or current smokers' category.

From News-Medical.Net:

Despite the increased pneumonia risk, the team found no clear evidence that the drug therapy also pushes up rates for other steroid-related problems, such as bone fractures, nor was there an increase in deaths.
Senior study investigator and critical care specialist Eddy Fan, M.D., says the results of the analysis should not alarm patients or cause them to stop taking their medications but should spur physicians to screen and monitor their patients to find the lowest possible steroid dose that works, especially in the elderly, people with immune system problems, and people who have had multiple bouts of pneumonia and for whom repeat bacterial infection might be a life-threatening complication.
"Inhaled corticosteroids are not of equal benefit to all, and what we are seeing is that the treatment may be more harmful and pose a greater risk of harm to some," says Fan, an instructor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

According to pulmonologist M. Brad Drummond, M.D., M.H.S., who led the study, the findings are seen to serve as a reminder for all those people with serious lung disease to take steps for ensuring a reduction concerned with chances of getting pneumonia, which doubles their risk of dying.

Gold nanoparticles capable of burning tumors

According to recent research by Romain Quidant, who was recently awarded the Fresnel Prize 2009 as recognition for the highest level of excellence amongst emerging researchers in the field of photonics, identification and treatment of cancer is possible with gold nanoparticles illuminated with laser light.

It was revealed that the idea was to first introduce gold nanoparticles into the tumor cells and following it with a subsequent application of laser light. It is considered that according to this phenomena discovered by the researcher, the concerned nanoparticles can heat up enough to burn the damage cells.

From News-Medical.Net:

The interaction between light and gold nanostructures is not only useful for the treatment of cancer but also for its diagnosis. Romain Quidant is working on a chip that is made up of a multitude of metal nanostructures that are able to send a light signal when they come into contact with cancer markers. This "nanolaboratory" performs a vast number of analyses in parallel from a single drop of blood. Each metal nanostructure is coated in molecules (receptors) that are able to recognize and trap a specific cancer marker. When this happens, the nanostructure responds to the external light differently to when no markers are trapped.

The team led by Romain Quidant in this research line has already developed a nanosensor prototype designed to detect doping substances in the blood, such as the steroids that some sportspeople use.

The main advantages of this type of device are its small size (which makes it easy to use in developing countries where there are no laboratories, for example), and its great sensitivity, which would make it possible to detect cancer in its early stages of development when there is a low density of markers.

Quidant anticipates that the detector will be ready within the next ten years and that its applications will range from agro-food controls to the detection of hazardous industrial substances.

These findings are considered to offer a new dimensional approach to members of the medical world when it comes to effective cancer treatments.

Prolonged usage of a macrolide antibiotic reduces COPD exacerbations

Prolonged usage of a macrolide antibiotic could possible minimize exacerbations in patients with moderate to severe COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) by as much as 35 percent as per a London-based study.

According to lead author of the paper, Terence A. R. Seemungal, Ph.D., and Jadwiga Wedzicha, M.D., principle investigator, there is a considerable effect of low-dose macrolide therapy, reducing exacerbation frequency, and severity with moderate to severe COPD.

From News-Medical.Net:

The researchers found that not only did the patients randomized to receive erythromycin have fewer exacerbations, but among the patients studied, 60 percent of the exacerbations that occurred were within the placebo group. While the number of exacerbation-related hospitalizations was small, more than twice as many occurred among the placebo group—14 versus 6. The median duration of exacerbations from onset to resolution of symptoms was 9 days in the erythromycin group and 13 days in the placebo group.
"Our results did not allow us to determine a mechanism for these findings. However based on in-vitro studies we suspect that the mechanism is likely to involve the anti-inflammatory properties of erythromycin," noted Dr. Seemungal.
While their findings are encouraging, Dr. Seemungal points out that they must be put in context with future findings. Furthermore, the threat of growing antibiotic resistance resulting from widespread prophylactic use of erythromycin is not a trivial concern. "In this scenario, substantial, widespread emergence of macrolide bacterial resistance is virtually foreordained, with attendant reduction in the antimicrobial usefulness of this drug class," wrote Ken M. Kunisaki, M.D. and Denise E. Niewoehner, M.D., of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis, in the accompanying editorial. "Balancing benefit against harm could pose a dilemma for which there might be no clear answers."

John Heffner, M.D., past president of the ATS, was of the view that observations that intervention might possibly minimize the frequency and severity of acute exacerbations in COPD showcase present significant public health implications.

The effects of steroids on blood sugar levels

There are certain types of steroids, which have greater effects on the sugar levels than others. For instance, glucocorticoids can have greater effects compared to anabolic steroids.

Glucocorticoids are types of steroids that have an effect in the regulation of glucose metabolism. It includes hydrocortisone, prednisone, dexamethasone and betamethasone.

This type of steroids can make the liver generate sugar from substances such as proteins and fats. It acts in the brain, specifically in the appetite control center, by increasing hunger pangs. Finally, steroids inhibits the release of insulin from the pancreas and lowers the action of insulin in our body tissues.

Steroids can affect both non-diabetics and diabetics. However, the effect is more significant with diabetics. If you are a diabetic, you may need to visit your doctor for some adjustments in your diabetic therapy, since greater doses of insulin might be needed to counteract the effects of steroid therapy. Your meals should also be properly planned as steroids can increase hunger.

It is important that your doctor would be able to balance the exact dose of steroids to be given. The type of steroids and route of administration should be properly identified.

Generally, inhaled and topical steroids produce the least effect on blood sugar levels compared to other forms of steroids.

From Caller:

CORPUS CHRISTI — The word steroids has become synonymous with sports and medicine. But these two associations could not be more different. The family of anabolic steroids abused by athletes is quite different than the family of glucocorticoid steroids that patients get.

Dennis “Superman” Hallman returns to UFC

Former state champion wrestler and professional mixed martial artist, Dennis Hallman, had just signed a four-fight deal with UFC last month. He will be making his comeback against John Howard on November 21, 2009 at the UFC 106 to be held in Las Vegas.

According to MMA Junkie, bout agreements are still pending although Hallman and Howard already made some verbal agreement.

Last November 16, 2007, Hallman tested positive for anabolic steroids use. Among the anabolic agents found in his test, include Drostanolone and Nandrolone metabolite.

He was accompanied by fellow Strikeforce fighter Alexander Crispin who tested positive for Desoxymethyltestosterone. Both fighters received a one-year suspension plus a fine of $2,500 from the California State Athletic Commission.

Hallman started his suspension on November 16, 2007 with an additional 38-day extension when he renewed his fighter’s license. This is to comply with the full term of his suspension.

Hallman, also known as “Superman”, who had started his career in mixed martial arts in 1997, perhaps gained his popularity when he defeated welterweight champion Matt Hughes twice. The first fight was in 1998 at Extreme Challenge 21, followed by the December 2000 fight at UFC 29: Defense of the Belts.

From MMA Frenzy:

Welterweight veteran Denis Hallman, who signed a four-fight deal with the UFC, last month, will return to the Octagon against John Howard at UFC 106 on November 21 in Las Vegas.

Multiple Myeloma can be treated well with Lenalidomide-dexamethasone combination

After a comprehensive study that involved 353 patients with myeloma and conducted at 44 centers in the United States and Canada, it was remarked that a combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone can prove to be an effectual option for treating multiple myeloma.

It was found during the study that pairing a new derivative of thalidomide with a steroid can result in slowdown of the progressive nature of myeloma. It was also found that the combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone can also help in prolonging the lives of patients who have recently relapsed from previous treatments.

From News-Medical.Net:

"These trials highlight how large-scale cooperation in a team effort by myeloma investigators can quickly confirm benefits and introduce new active agents for patients with this disease," Weber says. "We also owe a debt to the willing patients who participated in this study."

Multiple myeloma is caused by formation of abnormal plasma cells, a type of white blood cell, in the bone marrow. These cells multiply rapidly, crowding out normal red and white blood cells and platelets. Tumors starting in the bone marrow may cause pain, and weaken bones predisposing them to fracture. In the United States about 20,000 people are diagnosed with multiple myeloma annually, and about 11,000 succumb to the disease each year.

Thalidomide, a breakthrough drug for multiple myeloma, is produced and marketed by Celgene Corporation as Thalomid(r). The company chemically altered thalidomide to make lenalidomide, known commercially as Revlimid(r), in hopes of reducing side effects and improving efficacy against the disease. The drugs attack both the malignant cells and the cellular environment that nurtures them.

As per study's lead author Donna Weber, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, a combination of drugs may become the sole option when a disease becomes resistant to one therapy.