Lumigan eye drops could be used to combat hair loss

In the UK there are millions of men and women who are affected by hair loss. Although Male-pattern baldness is more common than female-pattern baldness, (affecting around half of all men at some point in their life), it can be a deeply stressing condition for both sexes and can often severely damage confidence and even impact on one’s social life.

However, there are numerous treatment options available to these millions of people in the form of Propecia and Regaine for males, and Dianette, Florisene  and Regaine for females. Today though, there is more hope for men and women around the UK who are losing their hair, after new research found that a side effect of the active ingredient in the eye drops ‘Lumigan’ may be utilised to create hair growth on the scalp.

Lumigan contains an active ingredient called ‘bimatoprost’, a type of medicine that is known as a prostaglandin analogue. Lumigan is usually prescribed for patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma where there is increased pressure inside the eye. The bimatoprost works by decreasing the pressure inside the eye by increasing the drainage of fluid from the eye into the blood stream. If the pressure is not reduced then there is a great risk of damage to the optic nerve and then impaired vision.

One peculiar side effect though of the eye drops is the fact it can stimulate the growth of eyelashes, and now preliminary trials have already begun to see if bimatoprost can reverse the onset of male and female pattern baldness.

Lead scientist Professor Valerie Randall, from the University of Bradford, is a consultant to Allergan Inc which manufactures Lumigan. She says: “Bimatoprost is known to stimulate eyelash growth and is already used clinically for this purpose. We wanted to see whether it would have the same effect on scalp hair, as the two types of follicle are very different. Our findings show that bimatoprost does stimulate growth in human scalp hair follicles and therefore could offer a new approach for treating hair loss disorders.”

Androgenic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in both men and women, and can strike in varying severity. The culprit for the occurrence of thinning hair is connected to hormones named ‘androgens’ and in particularly; dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This powerful hormone stimulates facial and bodily hair growth but has adverse effects on hair located on the head. It is believed that DHT initiates a process by which hair follicles begin to deteriorate over time and eventually stop producing hair entirely.

The promising aspect of the latest research is that it has been discovered that bimatoprost works on a quite different receptor that is unrelated to androgens. Prof Randall continued: “Even if the androgen receptor is telling the hair follicle to do negative things, the drug is telling it to do positive things.”
Bimatoprost has been applied to the living scalp tissue provided from donors undergoing cosmetic surgery. In merely a nine-day period, it was found that follicles that had been treated with bimatoprost grew a third more hair than untreated samples.

In addition, researchers discovered that follicles in a person’s scalp contain the same kind of receptors that respond to bimatoprost that are also in eyelash follicles. Prof Randall explained what this could mean for those who are losing their hair, saying: “This means that so long as the drug can be applied in such a way that it can reach the follicle, it should stimulate hair growth in patients.”

All that awaits now is the result of six-month long Phase II clinical trials, which are currently underway in the U.S. and Germany. The trials comprise of 220 men with male-pattern baldness and 172 women with female pattern baldness.  Comparisons will now be analysed, with some patients being administered a solution of bimatoprost on the scalp, some patients will be given an ineffective placebo, whereas others will be using the highly effective Minoxidil, the active ingredient contained in Regaine Foam and Regaine Lotion.

Virtual smoking apps are heavily criticised for influencing teenagers

Advertising cigarettes isn’t an easy game for manufacturers. In fact it is actually illegal within the UK and many other countries around the world. The Tobacco Advertising & Promotion Act 2002 was enforced in November of that year in the UK, and most cigarette advertising came to an abrupt end on 14th February 2003. This included all billboards and printed publications. By July of 2005 came a slow ‘phasing out’ period for other methods of promotion, (e.g. direct mail and sponsorship) and most advertising is now banned on the internet with regards to cigarettes.

Following the legislation, manufacturers instead focused their efforts on using the actual cigarette packet as a weapon in their marketing efforts as well as relying on the display of their products in shops and supermarkets to attract the eye of customers and bring in sales.

Unfortunately though for cigarette companies, The Health Act 2009 was then introduced by the government and as a result, from 6 April 2012, tobacco displays at the point of sale were banned across England in supermarkets and will also be banned in smaller shops from 6 April 2015.
Despite all this, it has not stopped the creators of smartphone apps from conjuring up slightly naughty and free-to-obtain pro-smoking apps that researchers now warn could influence youngsters into lighting up. This is on top of an ever-growing number of films that are depicting their stars with cigarettes and also risk encouraging kids to smoke, which we reported back in July.

The latest warnings come from researchers led by Nasser BinDhim at the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health in Sydney, Australia. The authors comment: “These apps could also easily attract teens and children due to their high-quality graphics and availability under the ‘Game’ and ‘Entertainment’ categories in the app stores. Pro-smoking apps that show that smoking is ‘cool’ in a cartoon game, and provide a chance to explore the available cigarette brands and even simulate the smoking experience with high-quality, free apps could potentially increase teens’ risk of smoking initiation.”

The study authors conducted their study by browsing around the popular Apple App store and Android Market. Keywords searched included ‘cigarette’, ‘smoke’, ‘smoking’, ‘cigar’ and ‘tobacco’. To their amazement, they found 107 apps that they argue encourage people to smoke and also breach advertising bans and promotion of tobacco products.

Their research has recently been published in the Tobacco Control medical journal. In particularly, the most popular apps were for smoking simulation. In total, there were 42 smoking-related apps discovered on the Android Market, which had been accessed more than 11 million times. On the Apple App Store, 65 apps were available for download.

One particular app that caused shock for researchers was a cartoon game called ‘Puff Pass’. In that game, users have to click on the characters that then begin to smoke and subsequently pass the cigarette on to other characters in the game.

The apps were first discovered back in February of this year and were available to download under the retail categories health and fitness, entertainment and games and lifestyle.

Cancer Society national tobacco control adviser Skye Kimura hit out at the tobacco companies attempting to manipulate young minds, saying: “More young people are using smartphones regardless of their demographic or economic makeup…So really it’s just about the industry manipulating the youth market again and finding ways to get around our legislation and the loopholes to advertise the products.”

Tenth baby dies as the whooping cough outbreak continues

Figures released by The Health Protection Agency (HPA) have confirmed that a tenth baby has tragically died from whooping cough in 2012, in what is the worst outbreak of the infectious disease for decades. Health officials are now panicking that the outbreak will continue to get much worse and are predicting the death toll to go up.

Whooping cough is also known by its medical name of ‘pertussis’ because it is originates from the species of bacteria – Bordetella pertussis. It is a highly infectious bacterial disease that can easily spread when an infected person coughs and emits the bacteria into the air. This bacterium is then breathed in by another person and then sabotages the lungs and airways, with symptoms of whooping cough usually taking about six to 20 days to appear after infection.

Early symptoms are less severe and not too dissimilar to that of the common cold. They include a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, sore throat and a slightly raised temperature. Within a fortnight, the second stage of whooping cough then develops and the ‘Paroxysmal symptoms’ strike. These include very severe bouts of coughing that may bring up phlegm, vomiting following a coughing fit (especially in babies and young children) and redness in the face from the intense coughing. Coughing is commonly experienced in short bursts followed by desperate gasps for air (a ‘whooping’ noise).

Major problems arise in regards to whooping cough as babies cannot receive the vaccine for it until they are at least two months old, with following jabs at three and four months of age.  Across England in 2012 alone, there have been ten infants under the age of three months old to have died because of whooping cough. The latest death occurred in September according to the HPA statistics, with there being 6,121 confirmed cases in England and Wales since the start of the year. This is five times the number of 2011 and has led to health officials offering pregnant women a vaccine in the latter stages of her pregnancy in the hope that antibodies will get to the unborn child.  The aim is to provide protection until a vaccine can be administered when the baby is born and a few months old.
This preventive measure will not come into effect for several months yet though, and pregnant women are being warned to keep their new-borns far away from anybody who is suffering with whooping cough, regardless of age.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the Health Protection Agency, said: “We have been very concerned about the continuing increase in whooping cough cases and related deaths and welcome the urgent action recently taken by the Department of Health to introduce a vaccine for pregnant women. The introduction of a vaccine for pregnant women will not have an immediate impact on serious infection in infants so vigilance remains important. Working with the Department of Health we will continue to regularly monitor figures to evaluate the success of the programme. All parents should ensure their children are vaccinated against whooping cough on time, even babies of women who’ve had the vaccine in pregnancy – this is to continue their baby’s protection through childhood. Parents should also be alert to the signs and symptoms of whooping cough – which include severe coughing fits accompanied by the characteristic ‘whoop’ sound in young children but as a prolonged cough in older children or adults. It is also advisable to keep babies away from older siblings or adults who have the infection.”

If you have any of the symptoms of whooping cough, you must go to see your GP immediately and he/she can prescribe a course of antibiotics if the condition is diagnosed within the first few weeks of infection. These can prevent you from being infectious after around five days on the treatment. Any time after a few weeks and your doctor will probably not prescribe any antibiotics as the bacterium will have probably already passed. As babies are most affected by whooping cough, a baby under the age of one year will more than likely be admitted into hospital for treatment and treated in insolation to stop the spread of the condition to other people.

Fungal meningitis death toll reaches 24 in the U.S.

An outbreak of fungal meningitis has erupted in the U.S. and has already claimed 24 lives according to a statement released on Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The latest death occurred in the state of Indiana after the victim had received a contaminated steroid injection to treat their back pain. The CDC said it had confirmed cases of fungal infection in 317 people, and meningitis in 54.

This total of 317 is mainly comprised of patients who received methylprednisolone acetate steroid injections for their back pain, but five of the cases stem from peripheral joint infections from people who received injections in other areas such as the elbow, hip, knee and shoulder. So far, there have been no fatalities connected to peripheral joint infections.

All but two of the meningitis cases were the result of Exserohilum rostratum- a dematiaceous fungus that has been recognised as a human pathogen, with the most common infections being sinusitis and skin infections, keratitis (eye inflammation), subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), and osteomyelitis (bone infection).

The Exserohilum fungus has been discovered within unopened vials of steroids from New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass., and the pharmacy has subsequently been shut down and had its license permanently revoked.  Health officials also say that they found dirty conditions at the premises; dirty floor mats, a leaky boiler and black fungus specs in steroid vials were just a few of the discoveries. In the other two cases of meningitis, one patient was stricken with a fungus known as Aspergillus fumigatus, and the second to Cladosporium. Both fungi had never previously been established as having a direct link to meningitis.

Fungal meningitis may not be familiar with many people as it is a rare condition. It usually occurs after a fungus travels through blood to the spinal cord. Anyone can develop the disease but those with weak immune systems are more susceptible. Symptoms include fever, stiff neck, headache, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light and even stroke or death. Fortunately, the condition is not contagious. Several types of fungus can cause fungal meningitis but one of the main types if Candida albicans – a yeast-like fungus that is responsible for thrush and usually treated with Canesten Oral and Cream Duo.

The Food and Drug Administration has now requested that health care providers contact all patients who could have received any products from the New England Compounding Center. Since May 21, almost 1,300 sites in the U.S. have purchased products from the facility.

There is some positive news though in the form of the CDC’s latest guidance. They say that the greatest risk for developing fungal meningitis is in the first 42 days (six weeks) after injection. After this time frame, doctors and patients still need to be vigilant but can worry a little less than previously.

All fungal infections need to be treated as soon possible, before they get out of hand and develop into something a lot more serious. Fortunately, Medical Specialists Pharmacy has numerous products for fungal infections such as: Daktarin 2% cream (for athlete’s foot), Curanail 5% nail lacquer (for nail infections), Diflucan (for thrush) and the previously mentioned Canesten Oral and Cream Duo (also for thrush). We are constantly adding products to our massive range of prescription medications and chemist shop items, so make sure to regularly check the Medical Specialists website for the latest products and exciting offers.

New food labelling system planned to tackle rising obesity

A brand new universal food labelling system will be implemented in the near future on all food items across supermarkets in the UK. Although the exact date of introduction and final design has yet to be chosen, it is hoped that the new widely accepted system will finally banish any confusion for consumers regarding how healthy a particular product is.

Health minister Anna Soubry confirmed that that the new labels will include information on guideline daily amounts (GDA), in addition to the colour-coded traffic light system which also depicts levels of fat, saturated fat, salt, sugar and calories in terms of ‘high’, ‘medium’ or ‘low’.

Ms Soubry spoke out on the need for a nationwide food labelling system, saying: “The UK already has the largest number of products with front of pack labels in Europe but research has shown that consumers get confused by the wide variety of labels used. By having a consistent system we will all be able to see at a glance what is in our food. This will help us all choose healthier options and control our calorie intake. Obesity and poor diet cost the NHS billions of pounds every year. Making small changes to our diet can have a big impact on our health and could stop us getting serious illnesses, such as heart disease, later in life.”

The traffic light system works by having a postage-stamp sized sticker that states the percentage of a person’s recommended daily allowance contained in each product – red for high, amber for medium and green for low.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) first considered this approach back in 2006 after feedback from consumers suggested that they preferred this method of food labelling. Major supermarkets however such as Tesco, Morrison’s and Kellogg’s fiercely objected to this. They were angered at being told what to put on their food products as well as realising that a damaging red sticker on food products could look bad and effect sales and revenue.

Despite this negativity from those three companies, traffic lights were voluntarily implemented by certain big players in the food industry such as Sainsbury’s, Co-op and Waitrose. Judith Batchelar, director of Sainsbury’s brand, recalls the time when the company embraced the scheme, saying: “It was back in 2004 and I think it is fair to say that Sainsbury’s had lost a little bit of its sparkle. We were really up for driving change within the organisation. What we found with traffic lights was exactly that.”

The new kind of food label is estimated to be in use by summer 2013, with work now being done to create a certain design that will satisfy everybody.

Peter Hollins, chief executive at the British Heart Foundation, spoke of his excitement regarding the latest announcement, raving it was a ‘quantum leap’ forward for public health. He said: “It’s now down to each and every retailer and manufacturer to step up and introduce these consistent front of pack food labels, including traffic light colours, so shoppers can make healthy food choices at a glance.”

The announcement for clearer food labels is fantastic news and they cannot come quick enough after Medical Specialists reported one week ago about rising obesity across Europe. In the meantime, we have weight loss treatments such as Xenical and the recently introduced XLS-Medical Fat Binder, which can help you drop the additional pounds that poor food labelling may have contributed to! XLS-Medical can even be purchased today without the need for a prescription. You can read more about both treatments from the obesity section of the Medical Specialists website.

Ex-Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon speaks on her 13-year fight with IBS

If you are suffering from the pain and discomfort caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you are not alone. All across the the UK, there are 12 million more people who are being caused misery by the inconvenient and sometimes distressing stomach condition. The most commonly experienced symptoms for sufferers include stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhoea or constipation, or sometimes even alternating bouts of both to varying severity. Every case of IBS can be different, but all cases are certainly bothersome for the person who has it and Medical Specialists Pharmacy is doing everything possible to help the millions who are suffering.

This is why we recently introduced the revolutionary non-dairy, gluten-free probiotic ‘Symprove’; a scientific revelation of a drink that contains billions of live bacteria than get to work immediately upon entering the body and are not destroyed during the digestion process like other probiotics.
Perhaps somebody could come forth and recommend Symprove to the former Blue Peter presenter and Dancing on Ice contestant Zoe Salmon. The 32-year old TV star has this week spoke of her agonising 13-year battle against IBS, documenting her struggles over the years and what foods she now has to avoid in order to prevent a possible outbreak of symptoms.

She says: “I was 19 and working as a shop assistant when I had my first attack and started to feel really unwell. My vision started to go blurry and I felt as if I was going to faint. My heart started to beat quickly and my whole body began to shake. Then I broke out in a sweat and I was hit by this awful wave of nausea. The pain was so severe it literally took my breath away. Since then I’ve had increasingly severe symptoms, including stomach cramps, headaches, nausea and sickness every six months or so. One area that is always uncomfortable is my stomach, which feels bloated nearly every day. I actually look pregnant because my belly hangs over my jeans. It made me feel self-conscious in front of boyfriends. I went to see my GP and was told it sounded like I could be allergic to monosodium glutamate. I was referred to a consultant gastroenterologist and they said it sounded like I had a wheat and sugar intolerance. To hear that was terrible because I have such a sweet tooth. But it made sense as my first attack at work had come after I’d had a sugary drink and chocolate. So the consultant told me to cut sugar out of my diet and to stop eating wheat. Now that I’ve cut them out, I feel better. I avoid the culprit foods, such as bread, pasta, white rice, crackers, biscuits and alcohol, so eat lots of fish, chicken and vegetables. I am not saying I am the healthiest person. I still like my takeaways, and my sweet tooth will never really go.”

Dr Ray Shidrawi, a gastroenterologist at The Wellington Hospital in North London, heard about Zoe’s comments and gave his thoughts on her struggles. He says over a fifth of us have experienced IBS at one time or another. He commented: “Zoe is not alone in suffering from IBS. In fact it is a very common condition. Classic symptoms include bloating, ­constipation or diarrhoea or alternating instances of both. Invariably, we find IBS is stress-related and stress therapy is an important part of the treatment. But first we need to exclude other conditions including infections, so we often ask for a blood test and a sigmoidoscopy, which is a minimally invasive examination using a thin tube attached to a small camera and light that is ­inserted into the rectum to examine the bowel. Essentially, a person with IBS has a bowel but it is more sensitive than usual. The priority is to regulate the bowel and not get bunged up. So initially that means a balance of dietary changes to introduce more fibre and it will often mean using laxatives, too. We often find that IBS sufferers have an ­undertone of depression, so often a psychologist can help a patient enormously. We can also use some drugs to help modulate the gut but this is a last resort.”

Zoe Salmon is not the only celebrity though who is suffering from IBS, or has suffered with it at some point. There are many other people in the spotlight who have also had the common symptoms of IBS, and shows celebrities are just like the rest of us and not ‘superhuman’. They include:

. Tyra Banks (U.S. model and talk show host)

Tyra Banks surprised her audience back in 2006 when she revealed to her guest Janet Jackson that she has IBS, admitting she is ‘very gassy’.

. Jenny McCarthy (U.S. model and actress)

Jim Carrey’s former girlfriend Jenny McCarthy brazenly admitted to suffering with ‘chronic diarrhoea’ and various other IBS symptoms within her autobiography Jen-X: Jenny McCarthy’s Open Book.

. John F. Kennedy (Former U.S. president)

A 2002 review of the former President’s medical records, found an interesting revelation; it appeared he had suffered with bowel complaints and suspected IBS. Kennedy was prescribed antidiarrheal drugs to provide relief, as well as being administered testosterone to help his weight and strength.

. Camille Grammer (Former wife of actor Kelsey Grammer)

The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills star is often vocal about her battle with IBS, first developing the stomach condition in 1997. Whilst still married to Kelsey, she explained about her problems, saying: “I am always fearful that my IBS symptoms will return at any moment, so I always have to know where the nearest restroom is. I’m afraid that eating will result in stomach pain. Travelling is difficult. And IBS often makes even a simple evening out with my husband, to enjoy a concert or movie, seem impossible.”

The fact there are famous faces who have spoken out on their gut problems shows that these kinds of issues are indeed very common and certainly nothing to be ashamed about. If you are experiencing any kind of stomach complaint, it is vital you consult your GP immediately, who will then ask you detailed questions and refer you for further scans if necessary.

If it is IBS you have, then this can be treated with a wide range of effective medications such as Mebeverine and Buscopan IBS relief. In addition, the medication Lansoprazole can help with acid reflux problems that cause heartburn and complications with swallowing. All of these medicines are available at low prices from the ‘Stomach and Bowel’ section of the Medical Specialists Pharmacy website in addition to the new wonder treatment for IBS – Symprove. The 500ml mango and passion fruit flavour of Symprove can be purchased today without a prescription from Medical Specialists, priced just £19.93.

High blood pressure and obesity increase prostate cancer mortality

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death, after lung cancer. Just in the UK alone, it is estimated that around 36,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and it is responsible for a quarter of all newly diagnosed cases of cancer in men. Of this total of 36,000, just under a third will tragically die; usually because it has not been identified and treated early enough.
Unfortunately, prostate cancer will usually cause no symptoms until the cancer has become big enough to place pressure on the urethra. The symptoms are also incredibly similar to benign prostatic hyperplasia, and thus if you have such symptoms, it may not automatically mean you have prostate cancer. They include: having to urinate more frequently, problems actually beginning to urinate, a feeling that your bladder has not been fully emptied and a weak flow of urine.

The older you get, the chances increase of you developing prostate cancer, with it particularly being prevalent in people over the age of 70. However, a new study has come to light that sheds more light on the ‘high-risk’ groups, and what factors contribute to the deadly cancer.

Dr Christel Haggstrom, from Umea University, Sweden, and her team assessed nearly 300,000 males from Austria, Norway and Sweden over a duration of twelve years. Their aim was to analyse prostate cancer prevalence, how many deaths occurred, and what factors were contributing to prostate cancer incidence. The study was known as ‘The Metabolic Syndrome and Cancer (MeCan) project’.

Through the follow-up period of twelve years, a total of 6,673 men developed prostate cancer and of these, 961 unfortunately died from the disease. It was discovered that those who had among the highest BMI readings, had a 36% chance of dying from prostate cancer. For those with the highest blood pressure readings, the mortality rate was calculated as 62%.

Dr Haggstrom and colleagues looked at a wide range of risk factors, including high body mass index (BMI), high blood pressure, and high levels of sugar and fats in the blood, This is collectively known as ‘metabolic syndrome’. She said: “When we looked to see if the metabolic factors are related to an increased risk of getting or dying from prostate cancer we found a relationship with death from the disease and high blood pressure. There was also a link to high BMI but blood pressure had the strongest association to increased risk. The results for BMI are in line with previous findings in large studies. I can’t speculate on the reasons for the association between having high blood pressure and dying from prostate cancer. More research is needed to find out why this is the case but the results add further evidence to the hypothesis that high levels of metabolic factors separately or combined are related to an increased risk of dying from the disease.”

Pär Stattin, MD, PhD, from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, led the study. He commented on its findings, saying: “These observations suggest that cardiovascular risk factors such as overweight and hypertension are involved in stimulating the progression of prostate cancer.”

If you are suffering with any symptoms mentioned earlier, you should visit your own GP as soon as possible for a check-up and do not delay in doing this. The earlier prostate cancer is spotted – the better chance of treatment being effective and a full recovery can be made. Alternatively, there is a chance you could be one of the 2.4 million men in the UK suffering from the previously mentioned condition, benign prostatic hyperplasia. Also known as an enlarged prostate gland, it can be treated through the use of effective medication such as Flomax Relief, which eases the symptoms associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) of a BPH. Flomax works by relaxing muscles in the prostate gland, relaxing the muscles in the urethra (the tube from the bladder to the outside of the body).  This lets urine pass more freely through the urethra, making it easier to urinate. It is available today from the Medical Specialists Pharmacy chemist shop, costing just £8.75 for 14 capsules, or £15.95 for 28.

Can the ‘beautific’ drinks from Coca-Cola and Sanofi bring any health benefits?

Soft drink giant Coca-Cola is to join forces with the French multinational pharmaceutical company ‘Sanofi’ to launch a new range of ‘beautific’ drinks. The two powerhouses even claim that the new drinks will boost well-being as well as being able to ‘strengthen hair and nails’.

If that wasn’t enough, those who drink the Beautific Oenobiol brand on a regular basis, will apparently see an improvement to skin in addition to weight loss. Whether all this is true or not is another matter, but they are certainly bold statements from Coca-Cola and Sanofi.

The drinks will be given a launch this autumn primarily in France, before makers look to increase distribution throughout the rest of Europe. A spokesman for the launch said: “This is a small-scale pilot which is currently limited to a number of pharmacies in France.”

The Oenobiol range will come in four different flavours and will consist of mineral water, fruit juice and nutritional additives. The latter are what the manufacturers will help to embellish skin, strengthen hair and nails, lose weight and improve vitality.

Despite the early promise, it does remain to be seen just how successful the project will be between Coca-Cola and Sanofi. Their Oenobiol drinks are following a disastrous precedent laid down in the past after the shambles in 2009 that occurred when the drinks giant teamed with food company Nestlé to produce the green-tea brand, ‘Enviga’, which too claimed various weight-loss benefits.

A marketing war ensued and a lawsuit battle which eventually involved 27 U.S. states. In an embarrassing climb-down for Coca-Cola and Nestlé, all subsequent cans or bottles of Enviga were ordered to have a disclaimer printed that made drinkers aware that the product would not actually cause weight loss and that this would instead be achieved through a healthy diet and exercise.

The news about the latest addition in a long line of health drinks has not been met with excitement by everybody. It is believed that Coca-Cola and Sanofi only even made announcements regarding the new drinks after a leak from Sanofi labour union representatives.  They blasted that workers were irate the drug manufacturer was ‘spouting about beauty drinks’ only a month after plans were made for job losses expected to reach the 900 mark.

Release of drinks such as Enviga and Oenobiol are probably connected to an increasing worldwide obesity epidemic and concerns are growing. In recent years Coca-Cola and Pepsi, the world’s two biggest soft drinks manufacturers, have released ‘zero’ branded low calorie, no-sugar drinks aimed at those who are weight conscious.

However, the true ‘healthiness’ of these types of beverages is debateable due to the high volume of additives that are loaded inside the drinks, many of which are disastrous for teeth. After all, something needs to be put inside the drinks to give them a sweet taste with there being no sugar present.

In addition, it remains to be seen if the new drinks will be able to promote weight loss, strengthen hair, skin and nails, etc. From Medical Specialists’ experience, and from contact with our thousands of patients, success comes firstly from factors such as lifestyle improvements such as a healthier diet and more exercise. Help can also be had from clinically proven treatments for the aforementioned issues such as, obesity: Xenical, XLS-Medical, skin: Dianette, Spironolactone, Retin-A Gel, hair loss: Propecia, Regaine, Regaine for women, Alpecin caffeine shampoo and there are products such as Nizoral shampoo for dandruff and T/Gel for both dandruff and psoriasis. All are available today at incredibly low prices from Medical Specialists Pharmacy.

Statins may almost halve the risk of developing liver cancer

Cholesterol-busting statins such as Crestor (Rosuvastatin) and Lipitor (Atorvastatin) are currently prescribed to nearly a tenth (7 million) of the population in the United Kingdom, working their magic by raising good/protective cholesterol (HDL) and lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. The higher your cholesterol level, the higher the chance of you suffering from a stroke or heart disease and thus increasing the overall risk of having a heart attack due to your arteries being clogged up with the fat-like substance known as cholesterol.

Health experts are continuously exploring the potential of statins though and already in the calendar year it has been found they could be beneficial for asthma sufferers, have been linked to a reduction in stroke occurrences and evidence suggest that even the healthier ones among us may reap rewards from taking them.

Amazingly, yet another study has emerged that shows their mind-boggling potential. This time, it is experts from the University of Milan who have decided to spend time to analyse the health boost that statins can bring-about, and they claim that a daily dose of cholesterol-busters can slash the risk of developing fatal liver cancer.

Researchers at the University collated information from a number of past studies that had focused on both statins and liver tumours. This kind of review of data is referred to as a ‘meta-analysis’ and is generally thought to be more accurate than other methods of analysis as it is collecting together results from a large number of studies in order to reach a more definitive conclusion on a particular medications effectiveness; in this case it is statins.

Their analysis looked at findings from five previous studies and uncovered that by taking statins on a regular basis, that person’s risk of developing a tumour was dramatically cut by an incredible 42% when compared against those who were not taking any form of statin medication.
This may now reinforce the argument of many health experts who have been calling for all people over the age of 50 to be prescribed statins to help stop a wide range of chronic and potentially fatal conditions, even if they are in the ‘low-risk’ category.

It is still not certain specifically how the statins work at offering a barrier against the formation of a liver tumour, and more work may need to be done in the future. In their report, published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, the Italian researchers commented: “Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer mortality and its rates have recently been increasing in central and northern Europe. This analysis suggests a favourable effect of statins on the disease.”

After seeing the report, Dr Safia Danovi, Cancer Research UK’s senior science information officer, gave his opinions and said: “This is interesting work but it doesn’t mean that cancer patients should start reaching for cholesterol-lowering drugs. Scientists, including our own, are asking whether statins could be used to treat cancer but we’re still a long way from a clear answer.”

Cranberry juice is not so good after all for bladder infections

Cystitis is a condition that many may not have heard about, but it is a common health complaint that many will suffer from at least once during their lifetime. Also known as a lower urinary tract infection, cystitis occurs when the lining of the bladder becomes inflamed and causes a stinging/painful sensation upon urination, or an urgent need to urinate quite frequently.

It is commonly brought-on by bacteria entering your bladder via the urethra – the tube where urine passes through to get out of your body from the bladder. In addition to infection, cystitis can also happen due to irritation or bruising of your urinary tract caused by friction during sexual intercourse. Due to this, it is sometimes given the moniker of ‘the honeymoon disease’.

Because women have a short urethra, the condition is more prominent in females compared to men and it is thought that all women will suffer from cystitis at least once during their life. The high-risk groups are: pregnant women, sexually active women and post-menopausal women.
For a number of years, many women have been under the illusion that cranberry juice works as some kind of miracle treatment for a number of bladder infections such as cystitis. However contrary to popular belief, scientists are now shattering this myth and saying cranberry juice is largely ineffective for this purpose.

Spanning back several decades, high numbers of women have been drinking cranberry juice to treat mild cystitis or to try and stop a recurring infection (known as recurrent cystitis). This is down to many GPS urging them to try it as it will cause no harm and possibly help due to compounds in cranberries working to prevent bacteria attaching to cells lining the walls of the urinary tract. It is the sugars and plant pigments called flavonoids that can supposedly combat infections and get rid of harmful bacteria.

Therefore, a team of researchers from the University of Sterling decided to look into the issue a little further. They collated data contained in 24 different studies that in total involved a massive 4,473 people. In the studies, patients had been assigned a whole variety of things to treat their complaints such as cranberry juice, tablets and antibiotics, or placebos such as just water.

After thorough analysis of the studies, researchers strongly argue than cranberry juice is a lot less effective than first thought. They say that the juice may be useful to some extent for women who suffer from recurrent cystitis; however any possible benefit would only be seen after many months of drinking a minimum of two glasses of juice daily.

Lead researcher Ruth Jepson commented, “We can’t see a particular need for more studies of the effect of cranberry juice, as the majority of existing studies indicate that the benefit is small at best. More studies of other cranberry products such as tablets and capsules may be justified but only for women with recurrent UTIs, and only if these products contain the recommended amount of active ingredient.”

A much better option for those suffering with cystitis is the most widely prescribed antibiotic for the condition; Trimethoprim. This treatment is used to fight both cystitis and various other urinary tract infections. This wonderful antibiotic is highly effective and is estimated to cure approximately 90% of urine infections. You can obtain 6 x 200mg Trimethoprim tablets for the low price of £16.50 at Medical Specialists.

German researchers claim heavy drinking can kill you sooner than smoking

According to experts in Germany, heavy boozing can send you to an early grave and ‘kills you quicker than smoking’ they say. In particularly, women who drink heavily are at a much greater risk of a premature death in comparison to men.

Academics in Germany recently published their study and the subsequent startling findings in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. Professor Ulrich John, of University Medicine Greifswald and his team analysed a completely random selection of over 4,000 people between the ages of 18 and 64. From this total, 153 were identified as being alcohol dependent (AD). Of the 153, 149 were closely tracked for 14 years (119 men, 30 women).

This latest study has caused such a buzz mainly because it has assessed the impact of alcohol dependency over a longer period of time, whereas past studies have been mainly established via clinical trials to find risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption.

Professor Ulrich John explained, “Clinical data have revealed a higher proportion of individuals who have died than among the general population of the same age. Gender-specific data are rare, even among clinical samples. Furthermore, these studies have two main limitations. First, we know that only a minority of AD individuals receive treatment of this disorder, but we lack knowledge about how this selection occurs. Second, we have no evidence about potential effects of specialised alcoholism treatment on mortality among people who had been diagnosed as AD. We would like to know whether treatment might enhance survival time. For ethical reasons, no controlled trials are possible. Thus, longitudinal descriptive data as in this study are helpful.”

After the 14 years, there were some shocking findings for Professor John. He continued, “First, we found that annualised death rates were 4.6-fold higher for females and 1.9-fold higher for males compared to the age- and gender-specific general population. Second, we found that the mean age at death was 60 for females and 58 for males, both of which are about 20 years lower than the mean age at death among the general population. None of those deceased had reached the age of life expectancy. Third, having participated in inpatient AD treatment was not related with longer survival compared to not having taken part in treatment, meaning that it did not seem to have a sufficient protective effect against premature death.”

Overall the findings would seem to heavily suggest that alcohol abuse can result in more early fatalities compared to a lifetime of smoking. Professor John concluded, “Smoking-related death cases are more due to cancers which seem to occur later in life than many alcohol-attributable causes of death do. Furthermore, drinking can also contribute to other risky behaviours such as smoking, becoming overweight, and obesity. Alcohol is a dangerous product and should be consumed only within guidelines.”

If you think you have an alcohol dependency problem, Medical Specialists Pharmacy believes you should see your own GP as soon as possible. A dependency on alcohol is risked if you are regularly drinking large quantities of alcohol and find it difficult to even go through a single day without feeling like you need a drink. With many people, a high tolerance to alcohol may develop and larger amounts of alcohol than previous are needed before any effects are actually felt. By visiting your GP, they can warn you of the health dangers that your drinking is having and the resulting damage to your body that will occur if you continue down that particular path. In addition, they can offer treatment programs and get you involved in support groups or counselling. It has been proven on many occasions that alcoholics can cut down or stop drinking altogether by discussing their problems, and from the additional support of family and friends.

However, alcohol is not the only subject in this story. Medical Specialists Pharmacy is slightly concerned that people could misinterpret the findings from this particular study and now underestimate the dangers of smoking, wrongly believing it is safe to smoke. Both heavy smoking and alcohol intake are incredibly damaging to a person’s health and ideally both should be limited to an absolute minimum, or stopped altogether. In fact already this year we have discussed how smoking can contribute towards the bone disease osteoporosis, skin cancer and asthma. In addition we have recently looked in-depth at the huge hidden health risks associated with secondhand and thirdhand smoking.

Prevent the risk of developing these conditions today though with the help of Medical Specialists.  Champix is a prescription medication that can be obtained following an online consultation with one of our GMC registered doctors. It works out from as little as just £75.00 per pack, an incredibly small price when it comes to your long-term health. Champix mimics the effect of nicotine on the body, reducing the urge to smoke and relieving withdrawal symptoms. It can also decrease the enjoyment you experience of smoking if you are still smoking whilst on the treatment.

Obesity on the rise in France as Brits continue to get fatter

A high-fat junk food diet and increasingly sedentary lifestyle is being blamed for a rising obesity problem in France. Statistics show that since 1997 the average French person has piled on an extra 3.6kg in weight, with a typical person now weighing 11 stone 6lbs. In addition, the French have also grown 0.7cm in height as well as adding an extra 1.3cm to their waists.

It has also been revealed that a massive 7 million adults in France are now classified as ‘obese’ – nearly double that of the number from fifteen years ago. This equates to 15% of the population of France and works out at roughly one in seven men and nearly one in six women.

In the report, a government sponsored survey by pharmacists Obepi-Roche, it was revealed that the age group that had seen the largest weight increase was the 18 to 24 year olds. The blame is being connected to an increasing addiction to fast food. In particularly, those who are less wealthy and living in industrial regions of northern and eastern France are apparently more likely to be carrying extra baggage than wealthier counterparts living in Paris, Brittany and the French Rivieria.

Guillaume Garot, a member of the National Assembly of France and France’s food minister, was alarmed by the report and has called for traffic light colour coding on all food labels. This style of food labelling was finally brought into play in August this year by Tesco in the UK, after giving in to demands by shoppers. The system works by using the colours of traffic lights; red, amber or green, depending on how nutritious it is. Red is the unhealthiest so therefore, if a food product has red lights for sugar, salt and fat content, then it is probably a food product best avoided. Since 2005 Tesco had instead adopted a ‘guideline daily amounts’ (GDA) system. This showed the percentage of sugar, salt and fat in a product but did not incorporate any colours.

Guillaume Garot was also incensed at food manufacturers for masquerading high-calorie food products as supposed healthy food options for consumers. He blasted, “These days you virtually need a degree in chemistry to understand the nutritional information on food labels. We need a simpler system that simply says in three colours if a food will make you fat, if it’s neutral or if it’s healthy. This is a health problem that affects the whole of our society and the government will tackle it as a matter of priority.”

However, France is still classified as being Europe’s second thinnest nation and the obesity crisis stretches far and wide to many other European countries. Greece holds the unwanted title of being the fattest nation in Europe, where an astonishing 70% of people are ‘overweight’. According to NHS definitions, you are overweight if you have a body mass index (BMI) that is between 25 and 29. A BMI of between 30 and 40, results in an ‘obese’ classification.

The statistics are certainly eyebrow-raising a little closer to home though. Britain’s women are the second biggest in Europe, with 62% overweight and 22% being obese. British men fair slightly better than the females, and come in at number five across Europe, behind Germany, Greece, Finland and Ireland.

The dangers of obesity may be underestimated by many, but are certainly life-threatening in the long-term. Diabetes, cancer, chronic heart disease and high blood pressure are just a few of the conditions that obesity can cause, as well as erectile dysfunction for men in many cases. By adopting a healthy lifestyle and diet in conjunction with a scientifically proven weight loss aid such as XLS-Medical or the prescription medication Xenical, you can begin to lose weight and dramatically cut your chances of developing a fatal health problem in the future. Both XLS-Medical and Xenical are available today from Medical Specialists at incredibly low prices.

Young women carelessly ignore condoms when taking the pill

A U.S. study has found that when women decide to use a hormonal contraceptives, pills, patches etc.; they often tend to stop using condoms. In addition, the same study discovered that years later if they then stop using the hormonal contraceptives, they will not resume any use of condoms. This is quite alarming and puts these women at a high risk of either an unwanted pregnancy, or possibly contracting a sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea or herpes. Only by using effective condoms such as Durex or Skins condoms can the threat of picking up an STI be kept to an absolute minimum.

Researchers from the Stanford Medical School in the U.S. looked at information obtained from almost 1,200 sexually active women. All women were aged 15 to 24 years of age and were visiting Planned Parenthood clinics. They were just beginning to use contraceptive pills, injections, patches or vaginal rings and not planning to fall pregnant in the forthcoming twelve months. When the study first got underway, it was determined that 36% of the study subjects used condoms consistently.
After three months study authors conducted a follow-up and found that the using of condoms had dramatically decreased by a shocking 27%. After a year, many of the women had stopped using any kind of hormonal contraception and worryingly; over half of these particular women did not then resume using condoms with sexual partners.

Those involved in the study advise that the most effective method of protecting against both an unwanted pregnancy and STIs is to adhere to the ‘dual method use’.  This could be described as a ‘belts and braces’ safety measure and is the use of condoms along with other contraception, such as the popular female oral contraception Dianette.

Lead researcher Dr. Rachel Goldstein offered her thoughts on the apparent dwindling number of women who are carelessly not bothering to use condoms, indicating the blame lies at the feet of the male. She says, “It appears that her partner’s feelings may be more important than her perceived risk of a sexually transmitted infection or her own beliefs about dual method use. Although a woman feels like she is at risk for an STI, she may not be able to advocate for herself and successfully negotiate condom use with her partner.”

For those unaware about the previously mentioned Dianette, they are contraceptive pills taken by women everyday for 21 days of their menstrual cycle, followed by a 7 day break when no pills are taken at all (also known as ‘cyclic treatment’). During this one week time period, women are still protected against unwanted pregnancies. In the 7 day rest period, hormone levels in the blood begin to decrease and women will experience a withdrawal bleed that is just like a normal period.
Dianette is available today from Medical Specialists Pharmacy, working out costing just £9.99 per month! In the next few weeks we will have other oral birth controls for women such as Yasmin and Marvelon. Similar to Dianette, both are also used in the treatment of acne. Keep checking the Medical Specialists website about these medications and many more which we are continuously adding to our product base.

Stroke victims are getting younger compared to previous years

Health experts have warned that the age of people suffering from a stroke is worryingly low, and that the number of young adults being struck down with them is increasing. In fact, one in five victims is under the age of 55 according to research in the American Academy of Neurology Journal. In the same report, it was stated that the average age of someone suffering a stroke has dropped from 71 years in 1993 to 69 years in 2005.

The study centred on 5,900 Ohio and Kentucky adults who had suffered a first-time stroke between the years 1993 and 2005. It was found that over this time period, 20 to 54-year-olds accounted for an increasing proportion of strokes. In what had started at 13% in 1993 had risen to almost 19% in 2005.
To delve a little deeper – during the twelve years, whites aged 20 to 54 saw a rate increase from 26 strokes for every 100,000 people, to 48 per 100,000. A similar trend was noted among African Americans. In the same time period, the rate had gone up from 83 to 128 per 100,000 people.

Study author Dr Brett Kissela, of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio, offered his thoughts on what could be causing the increases. He said, “The reasons for this trend could be a rise in risk factors such as diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol. Other factors, such as improved diagnosis through the increased use of MRI imaging may also be contributing. Regardless, the rising trend found in our study is of great concern for public health because strokes in younger people translate to greater lifetime disability.”

Dr Kissela did suggest things that could be done to reverse the findings from the study though. He continued, “The good news is that some of the possible contributing factors to these strokes can be modified with lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise. However, given the increase in stroke among those younger than 55, younger adults should see a doctor regularly to monitor their overall health and risk for stroke and heart disease.”

A spokesman for the Stroke Association, linked the results from the U.S study to stroke patterns in the UK, saying, “Although this research was carried out in the US, western cultures lead very similar lifestyles and in other research parallels have often been drawn between the US and the UK. For these reasons it’s likely that the UK could face similar outcomes. However, a UK specific study hasn’t been carried out yet.”

Strokes are the single biggest reason for adult disability within the UK due to the brain damage that is inflicted, with over 150,000 occurring every year in England alone. In addition, strokes are the third largest cause of death after heart disease and cancer. However, what are they and who is at risk?
A stroke happens when the blood supply to a certain area of the brain is suddenly stopped. Brain cells always require a constant source of oxygen inside the blood so therefore after the supply is cut off, the cells in the affected area either die or become damaged.

There are two main types of stroke – ischaemic and haemorrhagic. The former kind of stroke accounts for a staggering 80% of all cases of stroke. It happens when the flow of blood to your brain is stopped by a blood clot or clump of fat. You are at risk of developing a blood clot if your arteries have narrowed and clogged with fatty deposits; known as atherosclerosis. Major risk factors for atherosclerosis include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and a family history of heart disease or stroke.

A haemorrhagic type of stroke is brought on due a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain rupturing and resulting in bleeding into the surrounding brain and brain damage. Two types of weakened blood vessels will typically cause a haemorrhagic stroke: aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).

So what can you do to limit your chances of suffering from a stroke? As Mentioned earlier, smoking is a major cause so therefore quitting smoking immediately would be advisable through the help of smoking cessation medication such as Champix. Following an online consultation and the approval from one of our GMC registered in-house Doctors; you can obtain the effective smoking cessation medication Champix from Medical Specialists Pharmacy, costing just £75.00 per pack.

Medical Specialists also provides online consultations for patients with high cholesterol, a major contributor for strokes. For suitable patients our house doctors can prescribe statin medication (Lipitor and Crestor), and our in house pharmacists can dispense to patients within 24 hours. We also dispense statins for patients who can provide a private prescription, and have recently introduced the legally available generic Atorvastatin at much lower prices for suitable patients. The World Health Organisation has estimated that nearly 20% of all strokes and over 50% of all heart attacks can be attributed to high cholesterol so clearly the dangers of this are quite apparent.

Can Echinacea treat a cold: The debate goes on

The popular herbal remedy Echinacea has been around now for many years and has been the source of much controversy over whether it works or not. Echinacea is extracted from the Eastern Purple Coneflower, which is found in North America, and has long been used as a herbal remedy for the common cold. Echinacea works by fighting viruses, which cause up to 95 per cent of all colds and flu, and studies suggest it can also boost weak immune systems if swallowed.

Common colds are caused by a range of viruses that result in the familiar symptoms of a runny nose, cough, and sore throat and sometimes complaints of headache and fever. The authors report that the common cold is the most prevalent disease in Western civilisation, with substantial related healthcare costs, so a medication to reduce this disease burden would be welcomed.

Now in new research carried out by Cardiff University’s Common Cold Centre (UCCC), 750 patients found that taking three daily doses of the common remedy for four months, reduced the number of colds and duration of the illness, by an average of 26 per cent. They said, “The treatment also cuts the number of recurrent colds suffered by people with weak immune systems, or a history of catching several bouts each year by 60 per cent.”

Previous studies had suggested that Echinacea could soothe symptoms and cut colds short, but there was only limited evidence it could prevent the illness from ever taking hold. The new study by the UCCC suggests that taking Echinaforce, a common form of the herb extract, could not only reduce the risk of colds but also the amounts of paracetamol patients took while ill.

The study was published in the open access, peer reviewed medical journal, Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This was a was a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, clinical trial designed to assess the safety and benefits of Echinacea purpurea (Echinacea) extract, in the prevention of common colds.

This study appears to show that giving healthy adults Echinacea every day for four months, may result in an average 26% reduction in the combined number and duration of cold episodes, compared to placebo over the same period. Actually, these findings are not unexpected. A study from the University of Connecticut published in 2007 found that people who took a preparation of Echinacea, reduced the number of colds from which they suffered by 60 per cent; and if they did catch cold, the illness lasted 1.4 days fewer than if they did not take the preparation.

It is only honest to point out, however, that other trials for example, one led by a researcher from the University of Virginia in 2005, have been negative. As is almost always the case, further research is needed. This randomised control trial was well designed and had a good sample size (755 participants); however, there are a number of irregularities in the reporting of the study findings that cast a shadow of doubt over the results, such as:

• No declaration of funding and only partial disclosure of conflict of interests
• No results table
• Limited reporting of unpleasant side effects
• No estimates of error around the results reported
• Selective reporting of results

In conclusion, based on this study alone, it is not clear whether taking Echinacea prevents cold episodes, though it does suggest it may reduce their duration. Further research is needed to confirm or refute these findings and also to see if they also apply to people with long term health conditions such as asthma.

Male contraceptive pill could be on the horizon with latest breakthrough

A major discovery by Australian researchers could finally bring a male contraceptive pill to fruition and give men more options to equip them and their partners against unwanted pregnancies. Currently condoms such as Durex and Skins for men or the oral contraceptive pill for women, Dianette, are just a few of the choices that are already presently available.

The latest developments follow other research conducted earlier this year by American experts who wanted to push through a male contraceptive pill as they said: “The lack of contraceptive alternatives for men is partially responsible for the high rate of unplanned pregnancies and contributes to the ethical, social and financial costs associated with abortions and deliveries to single mothers.”

Scientists at Monash University in Melbourne say that their findings mean that a pill could be produced that actually kills off the ability of sperm to swim efficiently, living them twiddling their thumbs instead of arriving at their unwanted destination! Furthermore, their findings could also shed some more light on potential factors behind male infertility.

In what seems to be common practice for laboratory tests these days, Lead researcher Professor Moira O’Bryan and her team chose mice to be their subjects for analysis. The team devised a mutation in a gene that is named ‘RABL2’. This gene works at transmitting protein fuel to the engine (known as the axoneme) in a sperm’s tail in mice.

This engineered mutation then led to a reduction in the size of sperm tails by 17% of their ‘normal’ size, and a 50% decrease in the production of sperm.

Most interestingly perhaps was that it was found these particular mice with the mutated gene were left infertile and their sperm were prevented from swimming or moving about anywhere.
Professor O’Bryan says, “They weren’t wriggling or going anywhere, they were just twitching. With this mutation, we get motors that don’t work properly. To be fertile, sperm need motility or swimming ability.”

O’Bryan worked together with fellow scientists from the University of Newcastle, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the University of Cambridge for the research. The next step now will be crafting a male contraceptive pill that will work to restrict the RABL2 gene instead of changing or damaging it forever.

Professor O’Bryan continued, “The challenge with developing the male pill isn’t rendering the sperm infertile but turning them back on again.”

The biggest hurdle it seems now for the scientists to overcome is the fact RABL2 is also located in other tissues such as those in the brain, kidneys and liver in lower concentrations. Therefore a male contraceptive pill would have to be constructed in a complex way that has an inhibitor specialised for the testes and will not affect other areas of the body.

Perhaps another hurdle to whether or not male contraceptive pills fully take-off, is if women actually trust the man to take it! This is a subject Medical Specialists Pharmacy looked at briefly in our story mentioned earlier. In addition, it is unknown just when a male pill will even be available. Various studies have been conducted in the last few years but it seems nobody has come forth with a definitive date of release. In the meantime, men could simply opt for the tried and test contraceptive method of condoms, which boast a 98% effectiveness rate. For women, the female birth control pill Dianette has an incredible 99% effective at fulfilling its purpose.

At Medical Specialists Pharmacy, men are already spoilt for choice when it comes to their contraceptive needs. In regards to condoms, Durex and Skins in particularly have an impressive range of weird and wonderful condoms to suit his and her preferences. Some condoms are ultra-thin to the extent you can barely feel it, others are designed to have a ‘tingling’ effect for maximum pleasure, whereas there are also even condoms that come in luscious flavours such as chocolate. If all this isn’t enough, a Durex play vibration ring can be used in conjunction with a condom to add to the pleasure!
Make sure to keep checking the Medical Specialists website for further news, developments and the latest products. We are constantly updating our huge product base and in the next few weeks we will also hope to add Marvelon and Yasmin; two additional female oral contraceptive pills that can also help to fight acne.

Wrinkle-busting Botox may be used to combat hay fever

Almost precisely a month ago we delivered some exciting news for 10 million hay fever sufferers in the UK and millions more around the globe when we reported how a new vaccine was in development that could directly hit the immune system, providing effective relief. This is on top of already currently available treatments such as Loratadine tablets, Nasonex nasal spray, Prevalin and Alomide allergy eye drops.

Now it seems that hay fever sufferers could be offered even more options to treat their symptoms, which occur when the immune system (the body’s defence system) overreacts to allergens, which in turn results in the release of histamine which in turn causes inflammation, itchy reddening or itchy eyes and sneezing. Although hay fever sufferers are worse hit during the spring and summer period, those who have allergic reactions to cats and dogs can find themselves in misery throughout the year when they come into contact with these animals.

The new treatment option bizarrely comes in the form of a Botox nasal gel remarkably, and now Australian scientists are currently preparing to carry out the first trial of its kind. Botox is mostly associated with celebrities who are willing to fork out thousands of pounds in their effort to beat the aging process. As well as a wrinkle-fighter, Botox may also be useful as a weapon against the inconvenient and troublesome symptoms of hay fever.

The Botox gel will be applied to the skin on your nose with the help of a cotton bud, where it will work by penetrating the skin to reach the nasal cavity. According to Philip Bardin, a professor at the Monash Medical Centre, the botulinum toxin could offer relief for hay fever sufferers by blocking nerve endings in the nasal passage, decreasing inflammation and preventing the onset of symptoms.

For the forthcoming study, Professor Bardin is optimistic about recruiting around 70 patients with hay fever and what is a common practice in these experiments; half of the subjects will receive the tested treatment (i.e. the Botox) and the other half will be given a placebo. The study is being initiated after preliminary trial earlier this year showed that the therapy does indeed provide relief from symptoms.

Here is what Professor Bardin had to say on the promising new treatment: “Botox works for three months and then its effects are broken down and the nerves regenerate. So if this works, maybe it’s gel into the nose every three months – or once a year for people who have seasonal allergic rhinitis – and, hopefully, no more sneezing.”

Dr Stephen Till from King’s College London, acknowledged the exciting breakthrough, saying: “This new vaccine is potentially applicable to far larger numbers than the existing one.”

However, the good news doesn’t end there. It seems even asthma sufferers could find themselves better off after a therapy of Botox. Professor Bardin has also released preliminary details of an experiment where a group of asthma patients with severe symptoms were injected with Botox into their larynx in an effort to alleviate muscle spasms. He claims that 80% of the asthma patients responded to the treatment and showed improve symptoms. The next step will be similar to the hay fever trial, involving a much bigger selection of patients, with both a Botox and placebo therapy being tested.

Of course, nobody knows for sure when or if Botox will be given the go-ahead for certified hay fever or asthma treatment as any potential health risks will have to be assessed first. In the meantime, Medical Specialists Pharmacy provides a huge range of products and medications to help both hay fever asthma sufferers, all at great prices. We have all of the previously mentioned hay fever treatments (Loratadine, Nasonex, Prevalin and Alomide), in addition to a huge range of asthma inhalers.

If you have already been prescribed an inhaler, have lost your inhaler, or run out and cannot get a prescription immediately, we are able to supply you an inhaler to help your asthma symptoms.   After undergoing a private and confidential online consultation with one of our Doctors, if you are suitable they will then write you a prescription which is passed to our in-house Pharmacists and dispensed to a location of your choice. This is all done discretely and within just 24 hours. We have both blue (relievers) inhalers such as Ventolin and Salbutamol, and brown (preventers) inhalers such as Qvar Beclomethasone and Qvar Easi-Breathe.

There is a lot of fungus among us – Are you prepared?

When you hear the word ‘fungus’, you may immediately think of a mushroom. This wouldn’t be a major surprise – after all, a mushroom is one type of fungus. However, there are other types of fungi, and they are present in every one of us.

In particularly, they are known as dermatophytes and yeasts; groups of fungi that are usually quite harmless to us. However problems arise when fungi multiply from small spores in the air. The spores can either be inhaled or they can come into contact with your skin. Therefore, a fungal infection (also known as a ‘mycosis’), will often begin either in the lungs or on the skin.

Fungal skin infections typically affect the skin because thrive on keratin, a particular protein that in in our skin, hair and nails. Fungal infections in humans can differ drastically in their severity from common, mild superficial infections such as athlete’s foot and thrush (both vaginal and oral) to more dangerous life-threatening diseases such as invasive aspergillosis.

Here are some common types of fungal skin infections that you need to be aware of:

. Athlete’s foot

The name shouldn’t fool you; anyone can get the itchy condition known as athlete’s foot, which also goes by the aliases tinea pedis or ringworm of the foot. Symptoms to be aware of include: blisters, itchy skin, flaky and red skin and the appearance of white cracks – especially between the toes. It is commonly transmitted in moist areas where people usually walk around barefoot. Hazardous areas include around swimming pools, public showers and changing rooms. Walking barefoot can result in you getting the fungus of athlete’s foot or by using a damp towel that has the fungus on it. These are precise reasons why parents will usually tell their children to always make sure to wear sandals or appropriate footwear when showering in in public place. As the fungi thrive in a moist environment, make sure you keep feet and footwear as dry as possible and do not share towels with others. Also do not wear tight shoes that cause result in sweaty feet.  For treatment and prevention of athlete’s foot, most people opt for Daktarin 2% cream. Daktarin belongs to a collection of medicines known as ‘antifungals’, effectively working to eradicate the fungus responsible for the infection and also some of bacteria that may be there as well. Not just for feet though, the cream can help with infections that appear on the groin, hands, outer ear and scalp.

. Nail infections

Fungal infection of the nails is surprisingly more common than you think. It is believed that it will effect roughly between 3 and 8 out of every 100 people in the UK during some point of their lives. In fact, around half of all nail problems are down to fungal infection. Many types of fungus cause nail infections such as the previously mentioned athlete’s foot, which usually makes it way to the toenails. In addition, ‘candida’ is a yeast that can cause a skin infection commonly around the fingernails. Even worse is that you may get a nail infection after a toenail infection has already been established and you scratch at it. A nail infection is noticeable when the nail appears thickened and discoloured (a greeny-yellow colour), often initially painless. Without treatment such as Curanail 5% nail lacquer, the nail will look ghastly and may even crumble away eventually. Curanail contains amorolfine, which is clinically proven to kill a variety of fungi. Amorolfine works by stopping the production of ergosterol, an essential component of the fungal cell membrane. Without ergosterol, the cell membrane breaks down and the fungi are destroyed.


. Thrush

Thrush is an infection caused by a yeast-like fungus named ‘Candida albicans’.  Common in women, it is believed that three out of four women will have thrush at some point in their life. A lot of women have candida fungus in their vagina without experiencing any symptoms from it. There are ‘friendly’ vaginal bacteria as well as hormones in vaginal secretions that both keep the candida under control. The problems begin when this natural balance is disturbed and the candida begin to multiply. Thrush develops for several reasons which may include:  if you are pregnant, taking certain antibiotics, undergoing chemotherapy, use bathroom products that may cause irritation of the vagina, have diabetes, or have a weakened immune system.  Some people who have thrush may not even be aware of it due to the fact symptoms do not always show. For women, thrush may be spotted via a vaginal examination for a cervical screening test. However, for both genders, typical symptoms include pain when passing urine, a thick discharge and irritation such as itching. A popular and greatly effective treatment for vaginal and penile thrush is Canesten Oral and Cream Duo – A single, fast-acting Canesten Oral capsule, to help clear the infection and a tube of Canesten 2% thrush cream to immediately cool the external symptoms.

There are certain steps you can take to reduce your chances of catching a fungal skin infection or stop it from spreading, such as:

. Keep your body, nails, hair and scalp clean and dry, preventing the ideal conditions for fungus to grow in.

. Do not share towels, shoes, combs or other items of clothing with others that could be carrying fungi, and always be sure to change your socks on a daily basis.

. When you are in any damp communal areas; wear clean flip-flops or plastic shoes. Examples of such places include: showers, saunas and swimming pools.

. Wash clothes and bedding on a regular basis to remove any potential fungi.

. If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar levels under control.

Medical Specialists Pharmacy hope you now feel more equipped to understand what exactly a fungal infection is and how to spot them should you ever develop one. Fortunately we have all three products mentioned earlier available to purchase from our chemist shop; Daktarin 2% cream (for athlete’s foot), Curanail 5% nail lacquer (for nail infections) and Canesten Oral and Cream Duo (for thrush). We are constantly adding products to our massive range of prescription medications and chemist shop items, so make sure to regularly check the Medical Specialists website for the latest products and exciting offers.

Animal owners warned they could pass the flu to their pets

With the weather starting to change as we approach the winter months, temperatures are noticeably dropping, scarves and gloves are being dusted off for use and unfortunately many of us will be struck down with colds and influenza.

If you are unwell then there is a good chance you will possibly want to get cosy in front of your fire and cuddle up to your pet dog or cat, however – think again. Scientists in the United States are now claiming that humans could pass on their flu infection to our furry friends. Though the risk is relatively small, they say that awareness needs to be raised about the generally unknown condition ‘reverse zoonosis’, but it has caused some degree of concern amongst health experts and veterinarians.

Influenza is a respiratory illness, more serious than a typical common cold. People are at risk of getting the flu throughout the year, but are more at risk during the winter months, hence where the name ‘seasonal flu’ is spawned from. The symptoms of the condition include aching muscles and joints, coughing, fever, headache and a sore throat. Flu can be so debilitating that often the sufferer is confined to their bed for a few days due to exhaustion.

In the UK alone there are an estimated 600 deaths annually due to complications arising from seasonal flu. This figure can skyrocket to about 13,000 fatalities during an epidemic, such as the swine flu outbreak of 2009.

The swine flu was a new variant of the common H1N1 virus (responsible for the majority of flu cases) and was so deadly partly because people didn’t have much of an immunity to it as it had not previously been discovered in humans or pigs. The pandemic was curbed to a massive extent with the wonder medication Tamiflu, which prevents influenza virus from spreading inside the body and helps to ease or prevent the symptoms arising from the influenza virus infection.

It is also the H1N1 flu strain that is being seen in human to pet transmissions. Christiane Loehr, an associate professor at Oregon State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, says that ever since the 1970s experts have been aware that cats are at risk of catching the flu and in the year 2000 it became apparent that dogs could get it as well. Despite this, there was incredibly little in the way of reported instances of such occurrences happening.

Approximately 80 to 100 million households in the U.S. have a cat or dog, and 20 million in the UK. With such a high number of pets, researchers warn it may be best to distance ourselves from our pets when we next get struck down with symptoms of the flu.

The first confirmed case of a fatal human to cat transmission happened in Oregon in 2009 says Professor Loehr, with the pandemic H1N1 virus being the culprit. The cat’s owner had become seriously unwell from the flu and had to be taken to hospital. Whilst in hospital, her cat also became ill with the flu and subsequently died due to pneumonia caused by the H1N1 virus.

Since this tragic event, health experts have witnessed 13 cats and one dog with pandemic H1N1 infection during 2011 to 2012 that came about from human transmission. Even some pet ferrets have been found to be infected and a few died.

Professor Loehr is currently conducting further research into reverse zoonosis. She says, “We worry a lot about zoonosis, the transmission of diseases from animals to people. But most people don’t realize that humans can also pass diseases to animals, and this raises questions and concerns about mutations, new viral forms and evolving diseases that may potentially be zoonotic. And, of course, there is concern about the health of the animals. It’s reasonable to assume there are many more cases of this than we know about, and we want to learn more. Any time you have infection of a virus into a new species, it’s a concern, a black box of uncertainty. We don’t know for sure what the implications might be, but we do think this deserves more attention.”

Revealed: the everyday pills that could cause you to suffer hair loss!

The reasons behind hair loss can be many and varied. They range from genetic predispositions to hair loss, hormones, nutrition, physical activity, chemicals and stress. However, now according to a report by scientists at the University of Melbourne, drugs for blood pressure, acne, depression and even common painkillers can contribute towards hair loss. On top of this they claim other drugs can turn a brunette into a redhead, or make straight hair curly.

Many medications can result in premature hair loss and most of them list it as a side effect. Chemotherapy is the most obvious medical treatment that causes temporary premature hair loss, but others, such as antidepressants and those used for mood disorders and seizures can also affect hair growth.

Professor Sam Shuster, Emeritus Professor of Dermatology at Newcastle University said, “The cause of hair loss or change is often unknown, but you must always consider the effects of drugs, when drugs do affect the hair.”

In many cases, medications are thought to affect hair by interfering with its growth cycle, which has three distinct stages. In the growing period which lasts between three and five years on the scalp, hair grows by around 1cm a month. That’s followed by a shorter two week stage, known as the intermediate phase, where the hair follicle is prepared for releasing the hair.

In the final three month phase the telogen phase or resting phase, the hair stops growing and eventually falls out. After three months, the follicle starts to grow a new hair. Fortunately this happens randomly all over the scalp, if it didn’t, the hair would be shed in clumps.

Some drugs used for epilepsy and other disorders such as migraines have been linked to hair loss and they may even make hair curly.One of the drugs, sodium valproate, has been reported in various studies to cause hair loss in between 3 and 10 per cent of patients. In one of the latest studies, which involved more than 200 patients at Razi Hospital in Iran, 3.5 per cent of patients given sodium valproate experienced hair loss or curling. Another study found hair loss in 7 per cent of patients receiving divalproex, a combination of sodium valproate and valproic acid.

These drugs can trigger hair to fall out prematurely in the resting phase of the hair growth cycle. This normally lasts three months, with the hair naturally shedding at the end of this time, but for some reason antidepressants seem to make hair fall out at the beginning of this phase instead. Fluoxetine better known as Prozac is the most commonly reported antidepressant to cause hair loss.

Increased hair loss occurs up to one year after the start of medication and stops when therapy ends. Tricyclic antidepressants, which include imipramine, amitriptyline and doxepin, may occasionally cause hair loss, found the Australian study, which is due to be published in the journal Dermatologic Clinics. However, according to Professor Shuster, “Patients with this problem should not panic; this type of hair loss is reversible.”

Hair loss has been reported among women who stop taking the Pill after long term use. One theory is that this is because some oral contraceptives, particularly progesterone based pills, contain compounds called anti-androgens. These lower levels of testosterone and thus lower the risk of hair loss in women, who may be susceptible. But when these women stop taking the Pill, the protection ends.

When asked, leading UK Trichologist David Bailey said, “Women with hair loss who wish to take the pill, should try Dianette as it contains an anti-androgen which can stop this. If they do not wish to take the pill, spironolactone is often prescribed. Women who are already on Dianette should be careful if they wish to come off it. They could switch to Marvelon or Yasmin, or spironolactone it they do not wish to take a hormone based therapy. Either way, they should really discuss it with someone who knows all about hair and these types of treatments.

High blood pressure drugs have also been linked to hair thinning. The Melbourne researchers say two particular beta blockers, metoprolol and propranolol; have been shown to lead to reversible hair loss. Another group of drugs used for blood pressure, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, may also be associated with hair loss. The drugs seem to cause the hair to shed prematurely in the resting phase.

Small studies have linked painkillers to hair loss. A recent report from the New Zealand government described hair loss as a possible complication, affecting less than one in 100 users. A small U.S. study based on a sample of 21 people using ibuprofen found that 15 patients reported thinning or loss of hair. Once the medication is discontinued, hair loss reduces over eight to nine months.

However, Professor Shuster cautions that, “Patients should never stop taking the drugs without consulting their GP. They can be switched to other drugs, if appropriate, or the dose can be reduced. In other cases, patients can be reassured the effects are unlikely to be permanent.”

Professor Shuster said, “When drugs do affect the hair, the change is usually mild and reverses when the drug is stopped. So you may want to tolerate the change, because of the important effect the drug is having in restoring your health.”

So it seems that many everyday pills we take can contribute in some small way to hair loss, however as has already been stated the benefits these drugs offer us often far outweigh the possible side effects. Prescribed medicines should never be stopped without first consulting your GP. Also worth bearing in mind is that the side effects can often be temporary and reversible.

However there are effective treatments available to treat female hair loss such as Dianette, spironolactone, or even Regain lotion for women, and Regaine (minoxidil) foam and lotion and Propecia (finasteride) both of which are clinically proven to treat male hair loss. These can be obtained from Medical Specialists Pharmacy, after an online consultation with one of our doctors.