By Helen Borel, R.N.,Ph.D.
Sufferers of psoriasis – a chronic, very uncomfortable skin condition that produces dry, unsightly plaques and leads to embarrassment or social withdrawal – now can anticipate a new topical medication (a drug for the skin surface, e.g. lotions, ointments) that has so far shown thorough clearing of psoriatic plaques in sixty percent of those tested and partial clearing in others.
New Trials - Currently in further clinical trials under the aegis of Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, its developer, PTH (1-34) will now be compared for efficacy and safety in 54 additional patients during 8 weeks of treatment – some receiving the active product; others the topical formulation minus the PTH (1-34).
How It Works - Normal skin cells evolve from lower to upper surfaces over a period of a month; while psoriatic skin cells go through this cycle within only three or four days. So this disease of excessive skin-cell growth, believed exacerbated by abnormal immune system activity, motivated Manhattan Pharmaceuticals’ scientists to try making psoriatic cells behave like normal skin cells.
Normally the substance PTHrp modulates skin-cell growth. And the researchers believe that PTH (1-34) simulates this natural protein’s action so that skin-cell growth is slowed down to more normal rates.
For more than four million Americans struggling with psoriasis, PTH (1-34) appears promising.
Here’s a link to this pioneering company—> http://www.manhattanpharma.com/
(c) Copyright 2007 to 2015 Helen Borel. All rights reserved.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
YOU CAN GET DEAF AND BLIND FROM WHAT?
By Helen Borel, R.N.,Ph.D.
Blog Readers, even in things medical, humorous things occur. Do any of you remember, as teenagers, being warned, "You can go deaf and blind" if you do or overdo "self-stimulation"?
Well, something similar has actually come to pass. With the marketing of drugs (e.g., Viagra, Cialis, Levitra...) for so-called "erectile dysfunction (ED)," otherwise vernacularly "inability to perform effectively" -- due to physiologic conditions, emotional concerns or age-related issues -- has come some side-effect concerns. First for eye health, because some men have experienced vision problems related to ED drug use.
Now, sadly, "sudden loss of hearing" has reportedly happened to nearly 30 men on either of those 3 drugs mentioned. AND additional hearing loss events occurred during pre-marketing
clinical tests of these agents.
In only a third of these cases, the unilateral hearing loss was temporary; while the outcome for the remainder is not known at this time.
Yes, for the affected men, losing your hearing and/or your eyesight is no laughing matter at all. However, the myths of childhood die hard indeed. What a strange confluence of events.
(c) Copyright 2007 to 2015 Helen Borel. All rights reserved.
Blog Readers, even in things medical, humorous things occur. Do any of you remember, as teenagers, being warned, "You can go deaf and blind" if you do or overdo "self-stimulation"?
Well, something similar has actually come to pass. With the marketing of drugs (e.g., Viagra, Cialis, Levitra...) for so-called "erectile dysfunction (ED)," otherwise vernacularly "inability to perform effectively" -- due to physiologic conditions, emotional concerns or age-related issues -- has come some side-effect concerns. First for eye health, because some men have experienced vision problems related to ED drug use.
Now, sadly, "sudden loss of hearing" has reportedly happened to nearly 30 men on either of those 3 drugs mentioned. AND additional hearing loss events occurred during pre-marketing
clinical tests of these agents.
In only a third of these cases, the unilateral hearing loss was temporary; while the outcome for the remainder is not known at this time.
Yes, for the affected men, losing your hearing and/or your eyesight is no laughing matter at all. However, the myths of childhood die hard indeed. What a strange confluence of events.
(c) Copyright 2007 to 2015 Helen Borel. All rights reserved.
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