After months of frigid temps, dodging rainstorms and wrapped in warm blankets, Memorial Day is the first holiday to celebrate the start of warmer weather. the sun is out. Sunglasses are on. Sweat is glistening. Finally, there’s hope that summer is on the way.

Most Memorial Day celebrations are outside in the heat, gathering with friends or family over food, or consuming alcoholic beverages. Yet, even in May’s typical 70- to 80-degree weather, being healthy and preventing illness should be on the forefront of the brain.

Please pass the potato salad… with a side of food poisoningThe lack of refrigeration at barbecue lunches invites bacteria to join the party. the biggest culprits are dishes made with mayonnaise, such as potato salad or coleslaw. Not fully cooking meat on the grille and accidentally touching cooked food with the raw meat utensils are also setups for food poisoning.

Food poisoning symptoms are not subtle. the abdominal pain, cramping, vomiting and diarrhea often hits suddenly, after two to six hours of eating the offending food. most times, it has to simply runs its course. but, remember to stay hydrated and avoid milk or dairy until the diarrhea stops.

Pregnant women, children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems have to be especially careful.

In order to prevent infection, cook meat until fully done. Keep raw food far away from cooked food. And, keep the cold items in a good quality cooler with lots of ice. Maintain the cooler as close to 40 degrees Fahrenheit as possible.

Don’t shrivel upDuring hot weather months, especially when exercising, make it a point to drink more fluids. Waiting until thirst sets in is not always a reliable judge of dehydration, especially in older adults. many people are already dehydrated long before feeling thirsty. the best judge of hydration is the color of urine. a well-hydrated person’s urine is clear or pale yellow. anything darker, and it’s time to drink up.

Children and elderly adults are most sensitive to severe dehydration. but, regular, healthy adults are still 60 percent water. Even a small amount of dehydration can keep the body from working optimally. Women are suggested to drink eight glasses a day of fluids and men, 12 cups.

Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages — such as coffee, green tea and soda — actually dehydrates even more because the person loses fluids by urinating. so when drinking caffeinated liquids, increase fluid intake to make up for what’s lost.

Running out of steamHeat illnesses usually happen from staying in the heat too long. Sweating is the body’s way of releasing internal heat, but sometimes sweating alone can’t keep up with the body’s rising temperature. Horsing around or exercising too much in hot weather increases the risk of dehydration. Young children, older adults and being overweight adds to that risk.

Heat exhaustion is characterized by profuse sweating, lightheadedness, nausea, headache and vomiting. Muscle cramps may occur and even precede heat exhaustion. Immediate treatment should involve getting out of the heat, sitting in front of a fan or using cold water and ice to get cool.

If not, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which is life-threatening. the dizziness and lightheadedness worsens, the person becomes confused, has seizures or can fall into a coma. the person is no longer sweating and the pulse is fast and weak. People with heat stroke need to be immediately cooled and brought to a hospital.

Alcohol and energy drinks make heat exhaustion and stroke more likely due to the dehydration. Also, ingredients in energy drinks — especially caffeine — can alone raise the body’s temperature in hot weather.

Poisoned by a good timeDrinking many alcoholic beverages back-to-back — typically five or more — over a short period of time can cause alcohol poisoning. when the blood’s level of alcohol increases to dangerous levels, the person can become unconscious and breathing can slow down, decreasing oxygen to the brain and body. If the person vomits while unconscious, they can choke to death on their vomit. If any of these symptoms occur after someone drinks alcohol, get them to medical attention immediately.

And driving this weekend? Remain sober. Nearly half of motor vehicle accidents involve alcohol. And, that number goes up around holidays and proms, making Memorial Day weekend a prime danger.

Copyright 2012 by the Associated Press. all Rights Reserved.

Osiris Therapeutics inc said on Thursday that Canadian health regulators have approved its treatment for acute graft-versus host disease in children, making it the first stem cell drug to be approved for a systemic disease anywhere in the world.

Osiris shares rose 14 percent to $6.00 in extended trading after the news was announced.

Graft versus host disease (GvHD) is a potentially deadly complication from a bone marrow transplant, when newly implanted cells attack the patient’s body. Symptoms range from abdominal pain and skin rash to hair loss, hepatitis, lung and digestive tract disorders, jaundice and vomiting.

The disease kills up to 80 percent of children affected, Osiris said. To date there have been no approved treatments for the disease. Canadian authorities approved the therapy, Prochymal, for use in children who have failed to respond to steroids.

Prochymal was approved with the condition that Osiris carry out further testing after it reaches the market. C. Randal Mills, the company’s chief executive, said in an interview that could take three to four years.

Some investment analysts have been skeptical about Prochymal’s future. in 2009, two late-stage clinical trials failed to show the drug was more effective overall than a placebo in treating the disease, though it showed promise in certain subgroups of patients.

Since then, the company has mined data from all its clinical trials to show that in patients with severe refractory acute GvHD — those who have more or less failed all other therapies — Prochymal demonstrated a clinically meaningful response at 28 days after therapy began in 61-64 percent of patients.

In addition, treatment with Prochymal resulted in a statistically significant improvement in survival when compared with a historical control population of pediatric patients with refractory GvHD.

The Canadian authorities approved the drug on the basis of that data, the company said.

FDA submission this year

Osiris, which is based in Columbia, Maryland, plans to apply for marketing authorization with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of this year, including the newly-analyzed information. Mills said that if the FDA were to approve the drug, he would expect it to be on similarly conditional terms as outlined by the Canadian authorities.

In general, the FDA does not approve drugs based on subset analyses.

Prochymal is made up of bone marrow stem cells derived from an adult donor and is designed to control inflammation, promote tissue regeneration and prevent scar formation. It is not entirely clear how it works to help patients with GvHD, of which there are between 3,500 to 4,000 worldwide, Mills said.

Osiris said it will receive at least eight years of exclusivity in the Canadian market. but competition is heating up elsewhere.

Athersys inc said last month it had met with the FDA to discuss the results of a recently completed clinical trial of its MultiStem stem cell treatment to prevent GvHD in patients being treated for leukemia or other conditions that place them at risk of the complication.

Dozens of adult stem cell therapies are moving through clinical trials, and Canada’s approval of Osiris’s drug will likely boost optimism in the sector. Stem cells derived from adult tissue such as fat or bone marrow circumvent the ethical concerns raised by the use of cells derived from embryos.

In 2008, Genzyme Corp, which is now owned by Sanofi SA, paid $130 million to Osiris and agreed to pay up to $1.25 billion more if Prochymal and another Osiris drug, Chondrogen, designed to repair tissue in damaged knees, reached the market and achieved certain sales levels.

In February, Sanofi said it had discontinued its project with Prochymal. Osiris said the statement was issued without its consultation and that it had not received notice from Sanofi regarding the discontinuation. however, the company said that the agreement between the two companies provides that in this instance all rights to Prochymal revert to Osiris without compensation to Sanofi.

Bournemouth, Dorset (PRWEB) may 29, 2012

Latest data suggests people are spending less on their health but are at increasing risk from hidden sugars in their diet, warn gum disease experts from Eludril and Elgydium.

Excessive sugar consumption is not only a cause of tooth decay – it can also lead to plaque which harbours the bacteria that cause gum disease.

But people who think they are eating sensibly by cutting out sugar may be in for a nasty surprise. many supposedly ‘healthy’ foods in reality contain hidden sugars.

As a result, the British Dental Health Foundation believes that breakfast is in danger of becoming the unhealthiest meal of the day.

The foundation quotes a report by the UK consumers organisation Which?. It found that 32 of the 50 breakfast cereals tested had a high sugar content. many were popular brands aimed at children.

Many foods and drinks aimed at the health-conscious can be very high in sugar. they include large numbers of low fat or fat-free products.

Also, energy drinks can have a very high sugar content – not good news for people trying to replenish energy expended at the gym or during sport:

•     non-diet fizzy drinks have an average 12 spoonfuls of sugar
•     flavoured vitamin waters – up to 11 spoonfuls of sugar
•     energy drinks – as many as 13 spoonfuls.

Meanwhile, Britons are spending less and less on their health, reveals data from the Office for National Statistics.

Between 2005 and 2010 the average weekly household spend on health declined by 25 cent to just £5 per week.

“It’s effectively a gum disease double-whammy – people are spending less on their health while at the same time being exposed to more and more hidden sugars,” said a spokesperson for the manufacturers of Eludril mouthwash and Elgydium toothpaste.

Latest NHS data also reveal some worrying statistics:

•     at least 80 per cent of the UK population have one or more fillings
•     six per cent of adults have lost all their natural teeth
•     one-fifth of adults have full or partial dentures
•     31 per cent of adults have tooth decay
•     three in 10 adults regularly suffer from dental pain
•     only 10 per cent of people in the UK are classed as having excellent oral health.

It is estimated that 80 per cent of people will display one or more signs of gum disease at some point in their lives. The condition is more likely to affect people aged over 35.

Gum disease (gingivitis) is serious because it can lead to receding gums, putting teeth at risk.

It is important to deal with a receding gum line as early as possible. stopping the condition in its tracks and preventing further damage is much easier than retrospective gum reconstruction.

Early symptoms of gum disease can include sore gums and inflamed or swollen gums. If left untreated, the gum swelling can become quite severe, affecting particularly the papillae, the soft triangular areas of tissue between the teeth.

Other symptoms can include halitosis (bad breath) and bleeding gums, usually a sign that the bacteria have been present for some time.

The recognised gum disease treatment recommended by dentists is chlorhexidine, a powerful and effective antibacterial and antifungal ingredient found in Eludril mouthwash and Elgydium toothpaste.

For more information about Elgydium toothpaste and Eludril mouthwash, contact Nikki Pounds at Ceuta Healthcare on +44 (0)1202 780558.

Notes for Editors

Eludril and Elgydium are represented in the UK by: Ceuta Healthcare Ltd Hill House 41 Richmond Hill Bournemouth Dorset BH2 6HS Tel: +44 (0)1202 780558

Eludril Mouthwash is an antibacterial and analgesic solution which can be used to manage a number of oral health problems.

Its main use is to treat and prevent dental plaque formation and gum disease (gingivitis, also known as periodontitis) by preventing the build-up of bacteria.

Eludril Mouthwash can also be used to maintain oral hygiene in situations where tooth brushing is difficult, for instance, following oral surgery or in physically or mentally handicapped patients.

Eludril can also be used as a disinfectant for the cleansing of removable dentures and in the management of common mouth ulcers and oral candidiasis infections (fungus infections).

Elgydium Anti-Plaque toothpaste is specially formulated for sensitive gums and helps to prevent dental plaque and tartar build-up, the major causes of tooth decay and gum disease.

Elgydium Whitening, Sensitive and Decay Protection are also available as part of the Elgydium range of toothpastes.

Read the full story at prweb.com/releases/gum-disease/hidden-sugars/prweb9541199.htm

Hepatitis C is a contagious, viral disease that leads to swelling (inflammation) of the liver. according to the Caring Ambassadors Hepatitis C Program, approximately five million Americans have been infected with the virus and two out of three are unaware that they have it.

Lucinda K. Porter, registered nurse and author of “Free from Hepatitis C,” said, “Although more Americans die from hepatitis C than from HIV, hepatitis C is not a death sentence. Hepatitis C is preventable, manageable and curable.”

CausesIt is spread through blood to blood contact, such as infected blood transfusions, sharing illegal drug paraphernalia, unprotected sex with someone who has the disease or being born to a mother with the disease.

Risk FactorsAs the Mayo Clinic highlights, various other factors put you at a greater risk of contracting the disease: exposure to blood as an emergency or health worker, treatment for clotting from hemophilia prior to 1987, extensive treatment for hemodialysis and organ transplants prior to 1992.

Anjana Pillai, gastroenterologist for the Loyola University Health system, said that whose born between 1945 – 1964 are in a high risk category and should be tested. “This period,” she explained, “saw a high incidence of IV drug abuse and other illicit behavior that can lead to getting Hepatitis C.”

Acute and chronicHepatitis C is separated into two types: acute and chronic. the former is a short-term illness that occurs within six months of exposure to the virus. in many cases it develops into the latter, which is a long-term illness that potentially lasts for one’s entire life.

SymptomsThe majority of people with hepatitis C (between 70 and 80 percent) are asymptomatic. therefore many people don’t even know they have the disease. however, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that some people exhibit the following warning signs: nausea, dark urine, jaundice, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, fatigue, clay-colored bowel movements, joint paint and appetite loss.

DiagnosisA simply blood test can conclude whether someone has hepatitis C, measure how far the virus has spread and establish the virus’ genetic makeup.

TreatmentThe most effective treatments for the disease depend upon the patient’s genotype, reported Pillai. there are six different types and 70 percent of patients have genotype one, which is the most difficult to treat.

Porter said, “Most people will need 3 drugs – peginterferon (once a week injection), ribavirin (twice daily pills), and one of the new HCV protease inhibitors, either telaprevir (Incivek) or boceprevir (Victrelis) pills taken every 8 hours.”

Peginterferon and ribavirin are antiviral medications. these medications can cause serious side effects, such as depression and flu-like symptoms.

Telaprevir and boceprevir, two recently-approved FDA drugs, reportedly increase response rate by 80 percent.

Up until a year ago, people has less than a 40 percent chance for a cure with 48 weeks of treatment. with the availability of telaprevir, that chance has doubled to 80 percent.

If the disease has ravaged the liver, a surgeon may perform a liver transplant to provide the patient with a healthy one. Porter said that hepatitis C will cause one million cases of cirrhosis (chronic liver disease) by 2020.

McALLEN – A high pollen count and second-hand smoke were two contributors this year as the McAllen-Mission-Edinburg area jumped to ninth from 25th as the worst place in the country for asthma.

 “I was surprised myself. I knew we were high, but I didn’t expect to be that high compared to other places,” said pulmonologist Ramon Rodriguez, who McAllen doctor specializes in internal medicine and pulmonary disease.

The ranking, which is determined by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation for America, includes evaluation  of factors like  pollen counts, air quality, frequent ozone days, public smoking bans and use of asthma medications.

All contributed to McAllen’s rise on the list, according to Angel Waldron, spokesperson for AAFA.

“This year, the pollen count was really high in McAllen, (which) can cause problems over half of the people with asthma because they also have allergies,” Waldron said, adding that allergies trigger 60 percent of asthma cases.

Exposure to second-hand smoke also triggers asthma attacks.

Although the AAFA recommends smoking bans in workplaces, restaurants, bars and in cars with minors, McAllen only bans the first two, according to Josue “ Josh ” Ramirez, the city’sdirector of Environmental and Health.

Rodriguez said second-hand smoke is an irritant, but added that barbecuing  also sends people to the emergency room with breathing problems. most show up on Mondays, he said.

Additionally, the McAllen area is among the top five highest in the country in poverty and uninsured rates.

According to the National Prescription Tracking Data Base, which is provided by IMS Health, the usages of both over-the-counter and prescription medications used to treat asthma are higher here than they should be.

 “the data is telling us, the people in McAllen are either dealing with a high incidence of triggers that cause their symptoms, or they may be self-medicating (by) trying different things until they find something that works,” Waldron said.

However, patients who are diligent in being tested and who consult with allergists regularly won’t need to self medicate, Waldron said.

Although typically considered a children’s disease, 68-year-old Connie DiCarlo-Mendiola, of McAllen, learned she had the disease 11 years ago. Growing up in Minnesota, DiCarlo-Mendiola never suffered symptoms as a youth. even when she moved 22 years ago to the Valley, things seemed great.

“ When I first came to the Valley, I loved that Gulf breeze in the evening. I thought that was the best thing because I could breath that fresh air. But now that I have asthma, whenever (there) is a windy day, I stay indoors because of allergies and the wind ,” she said.

Since her diagnosis, however, DiCarlo-Mendiola has ended up in the hospital once a year.

She is not alone. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas reports that the impact reflected on the asthma-related claims are on the rise in Texas.

In the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area alone last year, BCBSTX processed 28,000 claims and paid $2,500,000 related to asthma, Ross Blackstone, senior manager of Media and Public Relations for BCBSTX, stated in a written statement.

Asthma now affects one out of every 12 people in Texas.   in addition to health challenges, the Texas Department of State Health Services says asthma also carries significant social and economic burdens:

>> One-third of asthma-affected Texans miss work at least one day a year because of their condition.

>> One third of Texans with asthma have trouble sleeping, and more than 11 percent have had trouble sleeping five nights in a row or more.

>> Children up to age 4 who have asthma are admitted to the hospital two to eight times more than adults with the same condition.

SOLUTIONS

There are several things that can help alleviate or lessen the affects of asthma.

One is to education people and make them aware of the disease and how to control it, Waldron said.

While there is nothing people can do about pollen counts, they can implement and observe smoking bans.

Also, working to improve the rates of poverty and those who are uninsured would help, Waldron said.

“it is good that students are able to access their inhalers while in school, (but) there are some states that don’t allow it because it is a controlled substance,” Waldron said.”When they don’t have access, we have unnecessary deaths.”

Recruiting more allergists and pulmonologists also would benefit the area. currently, patients have long waiting periods before they can be seen by a board certified specialist.

Rodriguez said the Valley now has 14 allergists and pulmonolgists.

In the Medical: you can use some more physicians in McAllen as well, or specialist to handle, right now there are just far enough, so people are probably dealing with a long waiting period before they can be seen by a board certified specialist, if some more physicians were practicing in McAllen that would be a benefit to our patients as well.

Dr. Rodriguez said in the Valley there are 14 Allergist and pulmonologist if we include the Weslaco ones.

As for DiCarlo-Mendiola, who is a respiratory therapist herself, life is normal except during May and June.

She said she follows three simple rules:

>> Complying with instructions for maintenance medications even when symptom free;

>> Exercising regularly;

>> Eating healthy.

Despite the debilitating effects of asthma, Di-Carlo-Mendiola said she’s winning the battle.

“I don’t let asthma control my life,” she said.

Martha L. Hernández covers health, business and general assignments for the Monitor and El Nuevo Heraldo . you can reach her at (956) 683-4846.

On May 14, Dr. Keith Ablow, a Fox News contributor and practicing psychiatrist, posted comments on the Fox News website about the American Psychiatric Association and its current revision of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual. 

The DSM was created in 1952 to provide a complete and reliable source of diagnostic categories and descriptions of mental disorders. its formation was guided by two fundamental principles; that the diagnostic categories and criteria that define mental disorders, are supported by substantial scientific evidence, and that they are consistent with public health needs. the DSM is periodically revised to update diagnoses and their defining criteria as new knowledge is generated. the last revision to the DSM was in 1994.

In his article, Ablow made comments about the APA and DSM-V, which I believe are inaccurate and unsubstantiated by scientific evidence. Moreover, they are misleading to the public and potentially harmful in that by undermining the credibility of the psychiatric profession and its scientific underpinnings. they may even deter people in need from seeking treatment.

For this reason, I offer the following comments in response. I believe that I am qualified to do so as Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the President Elect of the APA.

It is one thing to have a distressing and disabling psychiatric condition that affects one’s perception, cognition and emotions, and impairs quality of life, relationships and well-being.  but it is quite another level of tragedy when that condition goes undiagnosed, or when one is unable to get access to treatment because of stigma and shame or a lack of insurance coverage.  Relief from symptoms and recovery may be postponed or may never happen.  the consequences are not just inconvenience – as with any serious non-psychiatric medical condition, they are real, life-altering and potentially life-threatening.

For decades, the APA has worked diligently to provide definition in the environment of mental health through the development of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.  since DSM-III, each edition has provided evidence-based guidance in manual form for use by clinicians and researchers to diagnose and classify mental disorders so that patients in need can be effectively evaluated and gain access to treatments.

Since DSM-IV was released in 1994, there has been a wealth of new research and knowledge about the nature and frequency of mental disorders, how the brain functions and its neurobiology, and the lifelong influences of genes and environment on a person’s health and behavior.  Accordingly, the newest edition – DSM-V – will reflect that new body of knowledge.  And people who now suffer from a range of conditions will be the beneficiaries as they become increasingly likely to get an accurate diagnosis and access to treatment for it.

Many of the changes that are being proposed for this new edition were done to better characterize symptoms and behaviors of groups of people who are currently seeking clinical help but are less well-defined under the guidelines of the current DSM-IV edition.  the hope is that by more accurately defining disorders, diagnosis and clinical care will be improved and new research will be facilitated to help improve our understanding.  

The APA recognizes the importance not only of the document, but of the process for creating it and takes this responsibility with the utmost seriousness and as a sacred trust. Contrary to Ablow’s comments, the process for revision is not arbitrary and not politicized.  

For this revision, the APA recruited more than 160 of the top researchers and clinicians from around the world to be members of the DSM-V Task Force, Work Groups and Study Groups.  

These experts in neuroscience, biology, genetics, statistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, and public health were rigorously vetted for any conflict of interest using guidelines derived from other academic professional organizations and from the federal government itself and have worked assiduously for over five years to scour the scientific literature and determine whether any changes to existing DSM-4 diagnoses and additions were warranted.  they participated on a strictly voluntary basis and come from several medical and health care disciplines including psychiatry, psychology, pediatrics, nursing and social work.

The definition of mental illnesses may at times be a matter of debate – and they should be.  but the importance of mental illness and the need to recognize and diagnose it cannot be understated.  Without them, diagnostic approaches could vary widely.  the treatment of conditions would be uneven.  Payment for services would be difficult, to say the least.

For too long in human history, persons with mental illness were feared, persecuted or ignored. Stigma of mental illness in our society was pervasive. 

However, through biomedical research and enhancement of public awareness we have made great strides in the U.S. to establish a strong scientific basis for our understanding of human behavior and brain disorders that affect mental functions and bring them out of the shadows so that people can recognize symptoms and seek treatment. 

That is why the APA has gone to great lengths, and taken great care, from every angle, to produce a document that incorporates new knowledge to develop the latest guidelines that will benefit practitioners and patients alike.

Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman is the chairman of Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and director at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.

By Rich Damante, Rural/MetroSpecial to Today Publications

In Arizona, heat related injuries are very common. We must respect our environment, and plan our activities accordingly.

WHO IS AT RISK….Children, the elderly, and family pets are the most common risk group.  An infant less than 3 months old does not yet have the ability to adapt and overcome a heat related emergency. Immediate action is needed.

FACT….DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, IF THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE IS 100 DEGREES F, THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE a LOCKED CAR, EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CRACKED, WILL REACH TEMPS OVER 130 DEGREES F IN 15 MINUTES OR LESS. Never keep a child or pet in the car while you run errands.

HEAT CRAMPS, EXHAUSTION AND STROKE….a loss of body fluids and electrolytes leads to dehydration. this can lead to a condition known as HEAT CRAMPS.  Treat the patient in a cool place with rest, and plenty of fluids. HEAT EXHAUSTION is more severe. Signs to look for are dehydration, weakness, headache, nausea, and clammy skin. Treat the patient in a cool place, loosen or remove constricting clothing, give plenty of fluids, and bathe in cool, not cold water. HEAT STROKE is the most severe of the heat related emergencies, and can be life threatening. the body loses its ability to regulate its own temperature. Signs and symptoms include weakness, sluggishness, and possible seizures. Body temperature can go as high as 106 degrees F. CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY, treat for heat exhaustion, but do not give fluids.TIPS TO PREVENT HEAT/SUN INJURIES…..drink plenty of fluids prior and during activities, wear light colors and loose fitting clothing, outdoor activities before noon, and after 6pm.  Respect the sun, and use plenty of sunblock. Avoid caffeine, soda, alcohol, and energy drinks.BROUGHT TO YOU BY RMFD HOMETOWN HEROES

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ATLANTA, may 24 (UPI) — about 9 percent of all U.S. asthma cases are made worse by work-related exposures, federal health officials say.

Work-related asthma includes work-exacerbated asthma — pre-existing or concurrent asthma worsened by factors related to the workplace environment — and occupational asthma, new onset asthma attributed to the workplace environment. Work-related asthma is a preventable occupational lung disease associated with serious adverse health and socioeconomic outcomes, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The Asthma Call-Back Survey collects detailed information on asthma, including data on asthma symptoms, healthcare utilization, medication use, knowledge of asthma, cost of asthma care, work-related asthma, comorbid conditions and complementary and alternative medicine use for asthma, the report said.

The 38,306 adults surveyed — who had been employed at one time and currently had asthma — represented an estimated 16 million adults in 38 states and the District of Columbia.

Of these, the estimated proportion who had work-related asthma was 9 percent. those with work-related asthma were most likely to be ages 45-64, blacks and other minorities.

The estimated proportion of ever-employed adults with current asthma who had work-related asthma was similar among men and women.

The findings were published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

TORONTO – an antipsychotic drug used as a therapy for schizophrenia appears to have an unusual property — it can neutralize some cancer stem cells that allow tumours to come back after treatment.

In lab experiments, Canadian researchers found that thioridazine can alter cancer stem cells that give rise to a type of leukemia, as well as those that generate certain breast cancer cells, without harming normal stem cells.

The discovery, reported Thursday in the journal Cell, came after researchers screened about 3,000 compounds in search of those that would selectively inhibit human cancer stem cells.

Thioridazine is one of about 20 agents winnowed down through high-tech drug screening that appear to work against cancer stem cells, said principal investigator Mick Bhatia, scientific director of the Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute at McMaster University.

“Cancer stem cells, what they do is they keep proliferating,” Bhatia said from Hamilton. “But they don’t do what normal stem cells do, which is make other cell types. and then those cells perform their function and then die. That’s the normal life cycle.

“Cancer stem cells refuse to go through that life cycle because they never differentiate. they just keep making copies of themselves.”

That’s why, even if a patient’s malignancy appears to have been eradicated with chemotherapy and radiation, the cancer can come back, Bhatia said.

“And the feeling there is that the drugs we’re using aren’t targeting the cancer stem cells, so you’re not getting to the root. You’re just picking the dandelion off the top.

“And it looks good for a while, the lawn looks fine, but if you don’t dig at it and get the root, it just comes back.”

Bhatia admits that thioridazine’s apparent power over cancer stem cells came as a bit of a surprise.

The drug works against schizophrenia, for example, by targeting dopamine receptors in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that plays a variety of roles in the brain, including helping to regulate attention, cognition and movement.

The drug is also used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, which develop in response to declining dopamine levels caused by the death of brain cells that make the neurotransmitter.

Thioridazine doesn’t appear to kill cancer stem cells, but rather encourages them to differentiate, thus exhausting the pool of self-renewing cells.

The researchers showed that the drug affects leukemia stem cells without harming normal blood stem cells. It turns out that unlike normal blood stems cells, leukemia cells have a dopamine receptor on their surfaces — making them vulnerable to the drug.

Dopamine receptors also appear on some breast cancer stem cells, the researchers found.

“This gives us some explanation,” Bhatia said. It also suggests that dopamine receptors might serve as a biomarker for early detection of rare, tumour-initiating cells in patients.

Michael Rudnicki, CEO and scientific director of the Stem Cell Network of Canada, described the paper as a “beautiful study, a very nice piece of work.”

“I think this paper really exemplifies the Canadian leadership in cancer stem cell research,” Rudnicki said Thursday from Ottawa. “Cancer stem cells were really discovered here in Canada, and this work takes it to a new level.”

He said the researchers’ findings strongly support the notion that already-approved, “human-ready” drugs exist in the global pharmaceutical armamentarium that could bolster doctors’ ability to defeat some cancers.

“Everything that we can do to build up the toolbox for the clinicians treating cancer will help this,” said Rudnicki, who was not involved in the study.

The McMaster-led team, which includes physicians, is planning to test thioridazine in combination with standard anti-cancer drugs in a small group of adults with acute myeloid leukemia who have not responded to chemotherapy alone.

The researchers’ next step is to investigate the effectiveness of thioridazine in other types of cancer, as well as exploring the potential of the other compounds identified so far, Bhatia said.

“We really want these drugs to be something that we can target at a clinical level.”

In the future, thousands of other compounds will be analyzed with McMaster’s robotic stem cell screening system in collaboration with other academic groups and the pharmaceutical industry.

“The goal for all of the partners,” said Bhatia, “is the same — to find unique drugs to change the way we tackle and treat cancer.”

Her titles held were numerous — business woman, wife, mother, sister and friend but Deirdre Bain never thought she’d add lupus patient to the long list of titles that defined her. the 47-year-old mother of four remembers how the chronic autoimmune disease just snuck up on her like an unwanted visitor who kept trying to get her attention but she kept ignoring it until she had no choice.

Bain was diagnosed with the disease in May 2010, but it had been more than a year earlier when her symptoms presented themselves. She noticed her face swelling and rashes on her ankles. She went to a dermatologist seeking relief, but the rashes kept returning. Eventually by September, the rashes that were purplish in color had started to pop out on her face as well. and the joint pains compounded the problem. She attributed it all to aging.

“I never thought my problem was anything too serious. I was convinced that something was irritating my skin so I thought maybe it was my little house dog so we put it in the garage but the rashes still came. Then I thought it could be my detergent and we changed from using powder to liquid and I would rinse the clothes twice as an added measure. But I still broke out and the rashes got progressively worse.”

Bain realized something was increasingly wrong when her symptoms upon returning would be worse. Her rashes had gone from purplish to being dark patches on the tips of her ears, on her arms and upper back.

It only occurred to Bain that something may be medically wrong with her when a sibling who had been diagnosed with lupus 11 years prior questioned her strange appearance.

Lupus occurs as a result of white blood cells attacking important organs and cells in the body due to not being able to differentiate between healthy and harmful cells. She was diagnosed as photosensitive which means she has to avoid being outdoors between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are at their strongest. She has had to curtail attending her children’s sporting activities.

Upon hearing her diagnosis, Bain’s first thought was that her life was over. She was nervous, afraid, depressed and worried. She felt she had been given a death sentence. the fact that she could get a second opinion she said helped her cope. After doing a battery of tests she was officially diagnosed with lupus.

Since her diagnosis and prescribed medical treatment Bain’s skin eruptions are more controlled and her internal organ inflammations are also being managed. She said her joint pain is minimized, she no longer has shortness of breath and now knows the importance of putting herself first.

Because of her experience with lupus, Bain said one of the biggest lessons she’s learnt is that it is sometimes important as a person to care about yourself more than other things or people.

“I love my family dearly. I have done all I can to put them first and ensure they do well, but it’s doing that and not making time for myself and my health that could’ve cost me my life. I remember before I forced myself to see a doctor I didn’t want to leave them for a moment. But I saw that I had to do it and had I not done so I don’t know what would have happened. I may not have been there for them at all. My health may have deteriorated or worse. so I learnt that I need to put myself on the front burner sometimes. Your health is a gift to you and yours. you are no good to them unhealthy or gone. so you have to take care of yourself. That is what I learnt the hard way.”

She now is on top of her health and ensuring that she is there for her children for years to come.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s white blood cells cannot differentiate between healthy and foreign cells and as a result attacks important cells within the body. the most affected parts of the body include the brain, kidneys, joints and skin. But the most defining mark in lupus is usually the butterfly rash that spreads across the patient’s nose.

The illness occurs more commonly in females than in males with a ratio of 11 females to one male, according to Dr. Patrick Whitfield who works out of the Oxford Medical Center. He said the disease affects women in their childbearing years normally in their 20s and 30s. In the United States, statistics show 52 cases per 100,000 are diagnosed with lupus. With this in mind the physician says if the Bahamian population follows a similar trend it is likely that with a population of about 400,000 that over 200 people are diagnosed with the illness.

Like many chronic diseases, lupus sometimes takes a while to be recognized and properly treated according to Dr. Whitfield. He said this is because the symptoms can be mistaken for other illnesses and as a result sometimes people underestimate their problem. He said the constitutional symptoms of lupus include fatigue, fever, joint pain, weight changes, muscular and skeletal pain (joints of the hands, wrists), skin changes, photo sensitivity and hair loss.

“Even though you may have these symptoms, they may very well not be lupus, which is why to be sure you have to get a doctor’s diagnosis,”?he said.

Dr. Whitfield said that although Lupus can seem depressing and is very painful, the mortality rate for this disease is relatively low. there is an 80 percent chance that patients will make it to at least 15 years after diagnosis. also with regular care and treatment, mortality is also greatly reduced. however, there is a 50 percent chance that people with lupus will suffer from kidney disease, which is difficult and if it leads to kidney failure it can decrease their life expectancy. He also said that reports show that about a third of all lupus patients in the U.S. died below the age of 45, but even so chances were still good for people with the disease to live a relatively normal life if they are on the right medication and are vigilant about their health.

If lupus is left unmanaged people run the risk of developing symptoms that affect the kidneys and lead to failure with each new relapse, said the medical practitioner. Neuro-psychiatric features like seizures, psychosis with hallucination, delirium and meningitis can also occur. Sometimes antibodies can attack the spine so patients can develop a weakness in their lower body making it difficult to walk. Strokes can also happen as well as a cognitive disorder similar to Alzheimer’s. Untreated patients or those who are lax in their follow-ups, even with a relapse can eventually get lung and heart diseases like pleurisy or pericarditis respectively which are illnesses where the linings of the organs are inflamed.

Dr. Whitfield said early treatment can decrease the damage that the disease can cause and allow a person diagnosed with lupus to live a normal life. He said it’s a disease that should be taken seriously.

Due to her own life changing experience, Bain has founded a non-profit lupus group called “Lupus ME? Bahamas”. She said the goal is to bring awareness to the public about lupus. the group is not a support group as much as it is about informing the public about the illness and raising funds to help lupus patients said Bain.

Lupus ME? Bahamas (which is not affiliated with Lupus Bahamas 242) will stage a walk-a-thon on Saturday, May 26 starting at 6 a.m. from Grace and Peace Wesleyan Church in Winton themed “Walk the Loop” to encourage lupus patients, supporters and exercise enthusiasts to come out and have a good time while learning about this autoimmune disease.

“My goal is to get people to be proactive about this thing,” said Bain. “I wasn’t aggressive in finding out about this illness when I was diagnosed and this can be a big deal for others whose illness can be worse. I want people to be aware of it and be understanding. I hope to be able to raise funds through different fundraising events to help support lupus patients who are in need of assistance to cover things like medical treatment. It’s a simple thing but it makes a difference and I hope to see this grow in years to come.”

To register for this event email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 364-5608. for more information on “Lupus ME? Bahamas” fundraising and information group, visit lupusmebahamas.com.