Tamiflu protected against pneumonia in swine flu patients: researchers

Swine flu patients were protected from developing pneumonia by taking Tamiflu during the pandemic, Chinese research has found.

A study of 1,200 people admitted to hospital with swine flu found those who were treated with Tamiflu were around 80 per cent less likely to develop pneumonia.

It means that four people needed to be treated with the drug to prevent one case of pneumonia, the study published online in the British Medical Journal found.

Some critics have said the response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic was excessive and that Tamiflu was ineffective.

The study, conducted by a team at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, also found that starting the course of Tamiflu, also known as oseltamivir within two days of symptoms reduced the length time patients were feverish and lessened the amount of virus they shed, so making them less infective to others.

Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/8029951/Tamiflu-protected-against-pneumonia-in-swine-flu-patients-researchers.html

CALUM BEST IS UNDERGOING HAIR LOSS TREATMENT AT IRISH CLINIC

Calum best is know for his famous father TV & modelling appearances, but as of late Calums hair has slowly been receding and is now thought to be having secret hair loss treatment at a clinic in Ireland.

The Daily Star has quoted friends of Calum saying “He is panicking so much about his thinning locks that he is willing to try anything” Another source said: “Calum is really vain and petrified that if he loses his hair he won’t get any more TV or modelling work.

Over the past year he has noticed his hair thinning rapidly, especially around the front, so he’s been undergoing treatment. “He’s been going to the clinic for months telling staff that going bald has affected his self esteem.

“He turns 30 next year and is worried about losing his pretty boy looks.”

The clinic specialises in hair restoration using a specially designed implantation pen to place hair follicles at exactly the correct angle and direction which is also know as a FUE device. FUE, or Follicular Unit Extraction, is a process whereby individual follicular unit grafts are ‘drilled out’. The process is an alternative to the more common, Ultra-Refined Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) which involves taking a narrow strip of hair roots from a ‘donor’ area at the back or sides of the scalp.

Viagra could treat prostate cancer

Lab tests on cells and mice found that when Viagra was combined with powerful chemotherapy it not only decreased the size of tumours but also protected the heart at the same time. The US team are now planning to carry out clinical trials on patients to see if the results are just as successful.

Doxorubicin is a standard chemotherapy medicine that works by triggering cancer cells to commit suicide but its use is linked with irreversible heart damage – often occurring several years after treatment stops.

So researchers have been working over the past 15 years to find a drug that prevents this without compromising the effectiveness of doxorubicin.

Professor Rakesh Kukreja and colleagues say they have shown Viagra, known medically as sildenafil, enhances the drug’s anti-tumour qualities in prostate cancer while simultaneously alleviating the damage to the heart.

The combination also did not harm any healthy prostate cells, according to the findings published online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Prof Kukreja, of Virginia Commonwealth University, said: “We believe sildenafil could be an excellent candidate for incorporation into cancer treatment protocols with the potential of enhancing the anti-tumour efficacy, while protecting the heart against both short term and long term damage from doxorubicin.”

Prof Kukreja said he is excited about the potential impact of the work and is keen to evaluate the combination in cancer patients.

He said: “My team and I are hoping to move the research forward to a clinical trial and plans are under way to do so.”

His laboratory is one of the first to explore the area of ‘pre-conditioning’ which involved treating mice with doses of sildenafil to increase therapeutic levels of nitric oxide in the heart.

This means the heart has an improved ability to produce nitric oxide which directly improves a patient’s outcome following a heart attack.

Generally, damage following a heart attack is related to an inability to recover from lack of oxygen.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8028038/Viagra-could-treat-prostate-cancer.html

New killer swine flu virus could be on its way

An even more deadly version of Swine flu could be on its way this Christmas experts have warned yesterday.

Scientists fear the H1N1 virus may come back this winter in a “dangerous” and more potent form. And that could send the death toll soaring for the bug, which has killed more than 60 people in Scotland and around 18,000 worldwide.

Swine Flu medication

Leading bacteriologist Prof Hugh Pennington said that every global flu epidemic has returned in a deadlier form.

He said: “History shows that subsequent waves have been nastier and killed more people.

“In 1918-19, when 50million died of H1N1, the second wave was much more serious than the first.

“It is reasonable to expect swine flu to return this winter.”

The Aberdeen-based boffin added: “One possibility is we might get another virus which is a more lethal mutation.”

Next week the NHS will appeal to thousands of vulnerable Scots to get vaccinated against swine flu.

A spokesman said: “It’s expected that H1N1 will be the main flu virus circulating this winter. Most people will recover naturally within a week.

“But those with health conditions, including heart and lung problems, are at an increased risk of experiencing serious complications.

“These people, including children, are encouraged to receive vaccination from October 4.”

Last night Scottish Labour’s public health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson said: “It would not be surprising to see a return of swine flu.

“It’s very important that people in target groups get vaccinated.”

Tesco to sell Viagra in store

Tesco have started a campaign to supply Viagra in-store to men over the age of 40 & up 65 years. Tesco last night confirmed that Viagra would be on sale from September 27 in 300 stores across the UK.

"They will have to complete a questionnaire and we will then carry out a blood pressure test, diabetes screen and cholesterol test."

This comes in line with Boots supplying Viagra in stores as well, so far we haven't heard any good reports about the service with the general public still too embarrassed to pop into their supermarket or local Boots to admit they have erectile dysfunction.

Not only that you have to be within a specific age range and go through a range of medical questions and physical tests before any Viagra is handed out.

Here at www.medical-specialists.co.uk we believe ordering is easy, fast & private with Viagra from as low as £37 per box and next day delivery from our in-house pharmacy and UK GMC registered Doctors who write all prescriptions.

We believe on-line is still the way forward for most men to buy embarrassing treatments such as male impotence medication.

Fighting baldness

Unfortunately, this makes hair follicles shrink until hairs no longer appear from them and affects the hair we do have. And due to the hereditary aspect, if it runs in your family, it's probably an inevitable part of your future.It's a cruel twist of fate that the very hormone that makes us men - testosterone - also causes our hair to vanish. Yes, the balding process begins when the scalp begins to convert testosterone into a new substance called dihydrotestosterone.

And whilst it's true that there aren't many treatments out there that really work, there are some - like Propecia - which do give your bonce a fighting chance, So far it's the only medically proven treatment available from UK pharmacists.

A couple of other steps you can take are stocking up on soya (some research shows that a molecule produced in the intestine when soya is digested could halt the balding process) and Quitting smoking.

According to a Harvard School of Public Health study, smoking not only increases levels of the hormones that trigger hair loss, it also constricts the tiny blood vessels that supply the scalp, quite literally starving your hair of nutrients.

JLS launch new condom range

JLS have just launched a range of condoms with Durex to promote safe sex throughout the UK

And not only do the four different packs of extra safe condoms feature each band member's individual colour, they also are branded with the boys' faces.

Marvin, who is dating The Saturdays star Rochelle Wiseman, added: 'We came up with the idea of Just Love Safe as we wanted to send a clear message out to fans that are over 16 and sexually active - and that is to always use a condom during sex.'

But the boys realise that launching such a range might lead to some unwelcome attention from over-eager female fans.

Marvin laughed: 'We used to get underwear thrown at us on stage, now we expect flying condom boxes! But it's important to put your love in a glove.'