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CHICAGO - Leading doctors urged a return to older, tried-and-true treatments for high cholesterol after hearing full results Sunday of a failed trial of Vytorin.
Millions of Americans already take the drug or one of its components, Zetia. But doctors were stunned to learn that Vytorin failed to improve heart disease even though it worked as intended to reduce three key risk factors.
“People need to turn back to statins,” said Yale University cardiologist Dr. Harlan Krumholz, referring to Lipitor, Crestor and other widely used brands. “We know that statins are good drugs. We know that they reduce risks.”The study was closely watched because Zetia and Vytorin have racked up $5 billion in sales despite limited proof of benefit. Two Congressional panels launched probes into why it took drugmakers nearly two
 
years after the study’s completion to release results.Results were presented at an American College of Cardiology conference in Chicago Sunday and published on the Internet by the New England Journal of Medicine.
Doctors have long focused on lowering LDL or bad cholesterol as a way to prevent heart disease. Statins like Merck & Co.’s Zocor, which recently came out in generic form, do this, as do niacin, fibrates and other medicines.Vytorin, which came out in 2004, combines Zocor with Schering-Plough Corp.’s Zetia, which went on sale in 2002 and attacks cholesterol in a different way.

The study tested whether Vytorin was better than Zocor alone at limiting plaque buildup in the arteries of 720 people with super high cholesterol because of a gene disorder.

The results show the drug had “no result — zilch. In no subgroup, in no segment, was there any added benefit” for reducing plaque, said Dr. John Kastelein, the Dutch scientist who led the study.

That happened even though Vytorin dramatically lowered LDL, fats in the blood called triglycerides and a measure of artery inflammation — CRP.

Some doctors noted that hormone pills for menopausal women and torcetrapib, a promising cholesterol drug Pfizer Inc. recently abandoned, also lowered cholesterol but were found in big studies to raise heart risks, not lower them.

Another ominous sign was the decision Friday by other researchers to expand enrollment in a more pivotal study of Vytorin to 18,000 people because early results suggest it will be harder than anticipated to see if it is any better than Zocor alone.

“It will be 2012 — ten years after the drug was introduced — before we know the answer,” said Dr. Steven Nissen, a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist who has no role in the studies and has criticized the drugmakers over the one reported Sunday.

Dr. Robert Spiegel, chief medical officer for Schering-Plough, said the study was done “with the highest integrity” and that doctors can believe the results “because of the time we took to make sure the data are right.”

“We were disappointed that it was not a very balanced panel discussion” by the heart doctors who urged their peers to focus on more established treatments.

However, Kastelein said the data were far more consistent than anticipated and ample to show that the drug simply did not work.

“A lot of us thought that there would be some glimmer of benefit,” said Dr. Roger Blumenthal, a Johns Hopkins University cardiologist and spokesman for the American Heart Association.

Many doctors have prescribed Vytorin without trying older, proven medications first, as guidelines advise. The key message from the study is “don’t do that,” Blumenthal said.

No one should ever stop any heart drug without talking with their doctors, heart specialists stressed.

However, doctors “should be thinking twice,” said Duke University cardiologist Dr. Robert Califf. He takes the drug himself because he cannot tolerate the high dose of statins he otherwise would need.

Dr. James Stein, director of preventive cardiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said many doctors prescribe Zetia and Vytorin because they seem to be safe ways to get cholesterol down quickly, without annoying side effects like flushing that some other medicines carry.

Stein, who has consulted for Schering-Plough, said that after six years on the market, it would have been good to see better results on a drug so many doctors believed would help, “but the reason we do research is so we don’t have to rely on our ‘beliefs’ — we can rely on data.”

The New England Journal also published a report showing that Vytorin and Zetia’s use soared in the United States amid a $200 million advertising blitz. In Canada, where marketing drugs directly to consumers is not allowed, sales were four times lower.

Merck is based in Whitehouse Station, N.J.; Schering-Plough, in Kenilworth, N.J.

In addition to the two Congressional committee probes, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo subpoenaed the companies in a similar probe in January.

“While these corporations profited, Americans were left in the dark,” Cuomo said in a written statement Sunday. “The millions who take this drug, taxpayers who subsidize its use through the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and Merck and Schering-Plough’s investors deserve to know why it took so long for the results to be made public. This new information underscores our concerns and advances our investigation, which we will pursue aggressively.”

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Ten years ago this month the lives of millions of men and women were changed almost overnight by the advent of a little blue pill — the first oral treatment for impotence.
 
Viagra, developed by accident by scientists at Pfizer Laboratories, was first approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration on March 27, 1998.

“Originally, we were testing sildenafil, the active drug in Viagra, as a cardiovascular drug and for its ability to lower blood pressure,” said Dr Brian Klee, senior medical director at Pfizer.

“But one thing that was found during those trials is that people didn’t want to give the medication back because of the side effect of having erections that were harder, firmer and lasted longer.”

Since Viagra went on the market it has been used by 35 million men around the globe, and it took impotence off the taboo list, making it infinitely easier to treat.

Urologists’ waiting rooms became busier as news got round that the condition, which was rechristened with a new, scientific name — erectile dysfunction, or ED — could be treated with a triangular blue pill.

Previous treatments had involved surgically inserting a prosthesis into the penis, injecting a substance into the male sex organ or using urethral suppositories.

“Viagra brought a lot more people into the office because of the ease of treatment,” Dr Irwin Shuman, a urologist of 40 years’ experience in Washington, told AFP.

“In the old days, when we didn’t have much in the way of treatment, we would do a lot more evaluation, looking for answers as to why somebody had the problem,” he said.

In one test, men would be observed while sleeping to see if erections occurred.

Men who failed to get the usual five to six erections per night were deemed to have a physical problem, and those who did get nocturnal erections were said to have a psychological problem and were sent to see a sex counsellor.

So Viagra helped move impotence out of the psychological realm and into the world of physical illnesses. “What we have come to understand in the past 10 years is that ED is a vascular disease,” said Klee.

“What happens is veins and arteries that deliver and remove blood from the penis are not working the way they should, and Viagra allows those vessels to dilate and increase blood flow to the penis,” he said.

Dr Abraham Morgentaler, director of Men’s Health Boston, and associate clinical professor of urology at Harvard Medical School, hailed Viagra as a “benefit to medicine.”

But, he added, the drug has not delighted all those who took it.

“There are two truths to Viagra: for those who refill (get a new prescription), it’s wonderful and they’re happy,” Morgentaler told AFP.

“But a lot of people look to Viagra for personal happiness, thinking a hard penis can resolve relationship issues,” and they end up disappointed, added the doctor and author of the book “The Viagra Myth.”

Some patients say taking Viagra “does not correspond to the way they want to have sex,” Morgentaler said.

Viagra works best on an empty stomach or after eating a low-fat meal, the medication’s official website says. It kicks in about 30 minutes after being taken, works for four hours, and only with sexual arousal, the website says.

But it’s not the answer for everyone. Morgentaler said he had a 78-year-old patient in his office who “didn’t like the idea of programming sex. Guys, and often women, too, don’t necessarily want to compromise the ideal of sex as something magical, spontaneous, romantic.”

Morgentaler also spoke of the darker side of Viagra, which has evolved since it and two other ED treatments became easily available over the Internet.

“It’s the use of Viagra by healthy young men who don’t need it,” he said.

“These young men take a pill whenever they go out … Maybe because they are inexperienced or shy and Viagra makes them more confident, or maybe because they have inflated ideas about what sex is supposed to be like from seeing Internet porn, which they also have easy access to, and they want to heighten their feelings of masculinity,” he said.

“I am concerned — not that these young men will get addicted physically, but that they will become psychologically dependent on Viagra,” said Morgentaler.

“Sex is an entree into a relationship, and most often what we want from a relationship is to be loved for what we are.

“But some of these young men feel they have to take a pill to be acceptable, and I fear they are potentially missing the opportunity to have true emotional connections with a partner, based on reality, not mythology.”

The sun spares nothing, whether it is a dense forest or your exposed skin. The notion is not new and perhaps all of us know that the sunrays can be harmful. Though you cannot stop moving out of your house, you can guard yourself with adequate clothing, a hat and glasses. However, such protection isn’t viable at all times, so all you can do is use sunscreen lotion which is quick and easy means to shield yourself from the Sun. Now the point is which sunscreen to buy since the market is loaded with many brands and to choose the right one is a big deal. Don’t worry, here we are providing some requisites of a good sunscreen to help you buy the correct one for yourself.
 
To start with, make out the distinction between a sunscreen and a sunblock. A sunscreen could be any form of product, having a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or less. An SPF of 15 indicates that it would take 15 times longer to burn the skin with the sunscreen than without. An SPF of 30 or more is found in a sunblock.  
If you have fair skin, use a sunblock with SPF 30 or more and you need it especially more between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m, when you’re at high altitude, near the equator, or outside in a sunny day. It is essential for everyone, including kids. Throughout the life-span, skin mostly gets damaged before the age of 18. Fair-skinned people require more protection.
Ensure that your sunscreen is marked ‘broad spectrum’ as it will shield against, both UVA (ultraviolet-A) and UVB (ultraviolet-B) rays. If you are over-exposed to the Ultraviolet radiation, it increases the risk of basal-cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.
Make out what protection you’re receiving. A sunscreen with SPF 15 provides you 94 to 95% UVB coverage, while SPF 28 gives you up to 96% coverage.
If you remain outside for longer duration daily, purchase zinc oxide or titanium oxide (or dioxide) to guard your ears, nose and lips. Such opaque and chemical-free sunblocks are perfect for sensitive skin. Z-Cote is the latest product that offers zinc-oxide protection. It is transparent; therefore you can evade that whitest look.
If you do swimming or sweat a lot, then but a water-resistant or waterproof sunscreen.
In case you’re allergic to certain skin products, go for PABA-free, fragrance-free and hypoallergenic sunscreen. Take a patch-test on your skin to verify whether the sunscreen is actually non-allergic.
If you’re prone to breaking out, choose a sunscreen which is noncomedogenic as it will not block the pores.
Based on your personal liking, select from the range of lotions, gels, ointments, wax sticks and sprays. Wax sticks are usually for lips. For restless kids, sprays can be an easy job.
30 minutes before going out in the Sun, sunscreen should be applied liberally to the exposed parts. Reapply the sunscreen in every two hours, or more frequently if you sweat too much. 
Best Brands of Sunscreen in India
Avon
Ayur
Biotique
Fair & lovely
Himalaya
Lakme
Lotus Herbals
Nivea
Oriflame
Shahnaz Hussain
VLCC

There are three conditions that result in the appearance of stretch marks on the skin, namely pregnancy, loss of excess weight and muscle building. At the same time, all the three conditions also bring utmost joy to us, especially the first one. So, how to maximize on the joy and minimize the small negative effect? Simple! With the help of some home remedies that are very easy and yet, give amazing results. Read on further to check out some natural remedies for removal of stretch marks.
 
How to Get Rid of Stretch Marks
Drink lots of water as it helps to maintain the elasticity of skin and thus, avoid the occurrence of stretch marks.
Use a stretch mark removal cream. The creams containing collagen, elastin, pro-retinol and anti-oxidants have been found to work best.
Exfoliate with a scrub on a daily basis, with the help of a loofah or scrunchy.
Massage the area with stretch marks, with oils like Rose hip oil, Jojoba oil and Castor oil.
If possible, use cocoa butter or shea butter for massaging on the area that has stretch marks.
Creams with vitamin A, E and C have been found to considerably lighten stretch marks.
Buy vitamin E capsules and take out the oil inside them. Rub this over the stretch marks on a daily basis.
Take hot baths and regularly massage the area that has stretch marks. This will help in improving blood circulation in the area and in turn, lighten the stretch marks.
Go for sunbathing. Tanning helps in the removal of minor stretch marks. Make sure to use lots of sunscreen while sunbathing.

The desire to look beautiful has made plastic surgery very common amongst the rich.It is, in fact, rarely used for a valid medical requirement while cosmetic reasons are making the most out of this surgery. In the past few years, plastic surgery has become popular worldwide regardless of the involved dangers. Similar to any other type of treatment, plastic surgery too, has some benefits as well as risks. If done by qualified and experienced surgeons, the results have been positive most of the times, however, there are chances of intrinsic risks and complications to occur in any type of surgery. Here are described some common risks of plastic surgery.
 
Allergic Reactions - Probably you’re over with the surgery but the medications could prove allergic to you. So, it’s always better to consult the doctor if you’re allergic to any salt. Sometimes, anesthesia can also be dangerous. 
 
Hematoma - Hematoma, or blood clotting, is a frequent problem which develops underneath the skin. If not treated in early phases, such clotting of blood could be fatal.
 
Scarring - However, incisions are made very small, there is a possibility of scars in cases. If incisions don’t get healed properly, they leave ungainly marks, or scars behind.
 
Numbness - In some cases, the patients have experienced temporary or permanent numbness. It happens because some nerves get damaged during the surgery, at times.
 
Bleeding & Infection - In severe cases, bleeding and infectionhas been found as the consequence of surgery. Consumption of painkillers to curb the pain can also be hazardous in the long run.
 
Death - Excessive and repeated plastic surgery also leads to permanent damage to the body structure. Some surgeries have caused death of the patient because of severe complications.
 
Conclusion
Severe complications are infrequent with the improvement of techniques and technologies in plastic surgery. Nevertheless, it is suggested that the patients must have a thorough discussion with the surgeon about the risks and other surgery issues, including the dangers of operation procedures.