21 May 2016

FDA Alert - Ketoconazole Can Harm Patients In Unapproved Usage

Nizoral (ketoconazole) Oral Tablets: Drug Safety Communication - Prescribing for Unapproved Uses including Skin and Nail Infections Continues; Linked to Patient Death

May 19, 2016

Audience: Dermatology, Family Practice, Pharmacy, Patient

ISSUE:

FDA is warning health care professionals to avoid prescribing the antifungal medicine ketoconazole oral tablets to treat skin and nail fungal infections. Use of this medication carries the risk of serious liver damage, adrenal gland problems, and harmful interactions with other medicines that outweigh its benefit in treating these conditions, which are not approved uses of the drug.
FDA approved label changes for oral ketoconazole tablets in 2013 to reflect these serious risks and to remove the indications for treatment of skin and nail fungal infections. However, an FDA safety review found that oral ketoconazole continues to be prescribed for these types of conditions. Since the 2013 labeling change, one patient death has been reported to the FDA due to liver failure associated with oral ketoconazole prescribed to treat a fungal infection of the nails. See the full Drug Safety Communication for further information.

BACKGROUND:

Ketoconazole in tablet form is indicated to treat serious infections caused by fungi and should be used only when other effective therapy is not available or tolerated. It works by killing the fungus or preventing it from growing. The topical forms of ketoconazole that are applied to the skin or nails have not been associated with liver damage, adrenal problems, or drug interactions.
In a July 2013 Drug Safety Communication, FDA warned that ketoconazole tablets should not be used as a first-line treatment for any fungal infection because it can cause severe liver injury and adrenal gland problems, and advised it can lead to harmful interactions with other medicines. FDA determined that the risks outweigh the benefits for treating skin and nail fungal infections and approved label changes removing this indication from the drug label and limited its labeled indication to treating only serious fungal infections.

RECOMMENDATION:

Health care professionals should use ketoconazole tablets only to treat serious fungal infections when no other antifungal therapies are available. Skin and nail fungal infections in otherwise healthy persons are not life-threatening, and so the risks associated with oral ketoconazole outweigh the benefits. Other treatment options are available over-the-counter and by prescription, but are also associated with risks that should be weighed against their benefits.
Patients should discuss with their health care professionals the risks and benefits of available therapies before using any medicine to treat skin and nail fungal infections. Patients taking ketoconazole tablets should seek medical attention right away if they experience any of these signs and symptoms of liver problems, which include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal discomfort; yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice); unusual darkening of the urine or lightening of the stools; or pain and discomfort in the right upper abdomen where the liver is located.
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report
Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.

[05/19/2016 - Drug Safety Communication - FDA]

19 May 2016

Fluoroquinolone Antibacterial Drugs: Drug Safety Communication

Fluoroquinolone Antibacterial Drugs: Drug Safety Communication - FDA Advises Restricting Use for Certain Uncomplicated Infections

May, 2016

     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-4014406330003101"
     data-ad-slot="7834192676"
     data-ad-format="auto">

Audience: Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Pharmacy, Patient

ISSUE:

FDA is advising that the serious side effects associated with fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs generally outweigh the benefits for patients with sinusitis, bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections who have other treatment options. For patients with these conditions, fluoroquinolones should be reserved for those who do not have alternative treatment options.

An FDA safety review has shown that fluoroquinolones when used systemically (i.e. tablets, capsules, and injectable) are associated with disabling and potentially permanent serious side effects that can occur together. These side effects can involve the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system.

As a result, FDA is requiring the drug labels and Medication Guides for all fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs to be updated to reflect this new safety information. FDA is continuing to investigate safety issues with fluoroquinolones and will update the public with additional information if it becomes available.
See the FDA Drug Safety Communication for a list of currently available FDA approved fluoroquinolones for systemic use.

BACKGROUND: The safety issues described in the Drug Safety Communication were also discussed at an FDA Advisory Committee meeting in November 2015.

RECOMMENDATION: Patients should contact your health care professional immediately if you experience any serious side effects while taking your fluoroquinolone medicine. Some signs and symptoms of serious side effects include tendon, joint and muscle pain, a “pins and needles” tingling or pricking sensation, confusion, and hallucinations. Patients should talk with your health care professional if you have any questions or concerns.

Health care professionals should stop systemic fluoroquinolone treatment immediately if a patient reports serious side effects, and switch to a non-fluoroquinolone antibacterial drug to complete the patient’s treatment course.
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report
Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

[05/12/2016 - Drug Safety Communication - FDA]

14 May 2016

Faith And The Link

13 May 2016

FDA Drug Safety Communication - Olanzapine

Olanzapine: Drug Safety Communication - FDA Warns About Rare But Serious Skin Reactions<br>src="http://smsmobile24.com/index.php?option=com_spc&comm=spc_webview_embed/webview_token/aG8ggu9uRk34HMArJkg5mtrBMcPgtz6mXNpxu6

     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-4014406330003101"
     data-ad-slot="7834192676"
     data-ad-format="auto">

May 2016

Audience: Psychiatry, Dermatology, Patient

ISSUE:

FDA is warning that the antipsychotic medicine olanzapine can cause a rare but serious skin reaction that can progress to affect other parts of the body. FDA is adding a new warning to the drug labels for all olanzapine-containing products that describes this severe condition known as Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS).
A search of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database identified 23 cases of DRESS reported with olanzapine worldwide since 1996, when the first olanzapine-containing product was approved. FAERS includes only reports submitted to FDA, so there are likely to be additional cases about which FDA is unaware. One patient taking olanzapine experienced DRESS and died; however, this patient was taking multiple medicines that could also have contributed to death (see the Data Summary section of the Drug Safety Communication for more information).
DRESS may start as a rash that can spread to all parts of the body. It can include fever and swollen lymph nodes and a swollen face. It causes a higher-than-normal number of infection-fighting white blood cells called eosinophils that can cause inflammation, or swelling. DRESS can result in injury to organs including the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, or pancreas, and can lead to death. DRESS is a potentially fatal drug reaction with a mortality rate of up to 10%.

BACKGROUND: Olanzapine is an antipsychotic medicine used to treat mental health disorders schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It can decrease hallucinations, in which people hear or see things that do not exist, and other psychotic symptoms such as disorganized thinking. Olanzapine is available under the brand names Zyprexa, Zyprexa Zydis, Zyprexa Relprevv, and Symbyax, and also as generics.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Patients taking olanzapine-containing products who develop a fever with a rash and swollen lymph glands, or swelling in the face, should seek medical care right away. The combined symptoms together are commonly seen in DRESS. Talk with your health care professional about any questions or concerns. Do not stop taking olanzapine or change your dose without first talking with your health care professional. Sudden stopping of the medicine can be harmful without your health care professional’s direct supervision.

Health care professionals should immediately stop treatment with olanzapine if DRESS is suspected. There is currently no specific treatment for DRESS. The important ways to manage DRESS are early recognition of the syndrome, discontinuation of the offending agent as soon as possible, and supportive care. Treatment with systemic corticosteroids should be considered in cases with extensive organ involvement. When prescribing the medicine, explain the signs and symptoms of severe skin reactions to your patients and tell them when to seek immediate medical care.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report
Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

[05/10/2016 - Drug Safety Communication - FDA]

Targeted Drug-Delivery In Pregnancy Complications

Targeted Drug-Delivery System May Treat Pregnancy Complications

A treatment approach that typically targets tumors may also safely deliver medications directly to a pregnant woman's placenta, a new mouse study suggests.
This type of treatment might one day help reduce pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, the researchers said. And it could also help prevent premature deliveries without harming fetuses, they added.

"Placentas behave like well-controlled tumors," study author Lynda Harris, of the University of Manchester in England, explained in a news release from Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in California. "They grow quickly, produce growth hormones and evade the immune system."

"A lot of cancer research focuses on finding ways of delivering drugs to kill the tumor without affecting the rest of the body," Harris added. "We had the idea that if we could selectively target the placenta in the same way, we could deliver other drugs to help improve placental function and therefore treat pregnancy complications."

Roughly 10 percent of babies are born prematurely, the March of Dimes reports, and a poorly functioning placenta is an underlying cause of many problems during pregnancy.
Without drugs to treat these issues, doctors are often forced to deliver babies early, the researchers explained.

Working with mice, the international team of scientists found that two chains of amino acids that are used to target tumors can also safely target placentas, delivering medication to support a growing mouse fetus. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.

In the study, the researchers delivered a growth hormone to mice placenta through tiny amino acid-coated nanoparticles. The drug did not affect normal-sized fetuses, but it prompted those that were too small to grow.

At the same time, the drug did not accumulate inside either pregnant mice or developing mouse fetuses.

Directing medication to the placenta might also help treat complications during pregnancy and avoid some premature deliveries, according to authors of the study published May 6 in the journal Science Advances.

The researchers said their findings suggest this treatment approach could one day be used on humans, although animal research often does not pan out in people.

They noted the treatment might not be appropriate for women with undiagnosed cancers because these drugs could also target tumors. But cancer screening could get around this potential issue, they added.

"Only one drug for use during pregnancy has been licensed in the last 20 years," Harris said. "By developing this [drug delivery] platform, we have opened up the possibility that any number of new drugs can be adapted and then used safely to treat common and serious pregnancy complications."

More information
The American Pregnancy Association provides more information on the placenta.

Depressive Episode May Not Always Follow Mania

Depressive Episode May Not Always Follow Mania in Bipolar Disorder

While many may associate bipolar disorder with episodes of mania followed by periods of depression, a new study suggests that's often not the case.

Researchers say states of anxiety are equally as likely as to follow manic episodes as depression.

The finding might have implications for better treatment, the research team said.
"For years, we may have missed opportunities to evaluate the effects of treatments for bipolar disorder on anxiety," said study lead author Dr. Mark Olfson, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.

"The results of our study suggest that researchers should begin to ask whether, and to what extent, treatments for bipolar disorder relieve anxiety as well as mania and depression," he added in a university new release.

According to the study authors, about 5.7 million Americans have bipolar disorder, which causes cycles of mania (elevated or irritable mood) and depression.

The new findings stem from an analysis of data from more than 34,000 American adults with bipolar disorder.

"Although it has long been widely assumed that bipolar disorder represents repeated episodes of mania and depression as poles along a single continuum of mood, the clinical reality is often far more complex," Olfson said.

He said that, based on the new findings, "patients whose main symptom is anxiety should be carefully assessed for a history of mania before starting treatment."

The study was published May 3 in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

More information
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on bipolar disorder.

Pesticides May Raise Risk of Sclerosis

Pesticides Linked to Raised Risk of ALS

Exposure to pesticides and other chemicals may increase the risk for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a fatal neurological disease, researchers say.

Three toxins in particular were associated with greater risk for the progressive condition, often called Lou Gehrig's disease because it killed the legendary baseball player with that name.
"We are identifying these toxic, persistent, environmental pollutants in higher amounts in ALS patients compared to those who do not have ALS," said study co-author Dr. Stephen Goutman. He is assistant professor of neurology at the University of Michigan and director of its ALS Clinic.

This new study doesn't prove pesticides cause ALS, but it does build on an association suggested in previous research, Goutman said. Scientists already suspect pesticides may contribute to Parkinson's disease, another neurodegenerative disorder.

For this study, Goutman and his colleagues evaluated 156 patients with ALS and 128 without the disease. Participants were asked about occupational and residential exposure to environmental toxins.
Blood samples were taken to measure pesticide levels.

The researchers looked at 122 environmental chemicals and pesticides. Three in particular were linked to heightened ALS risk, Goutman said.

Persistent exposure to the pesticide cis-chlordane increased ALS risk nearly sixfold. Exposure to pentachlorobenzene -- which was used in the manufacture of fungicides -- doubled the odds for ALS. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, used as a flame retardant in furnishings and textiles, raised the risk by about 2.7 times, the researchers said.

Military service was also linked to greater risk for developing ALS, but the investigators can't explain why.
ALS, a progressive disease, affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. As the nerve cells that
control muscles die, patients lose the ability to speak, move, breathe and eat, according to the ALS Association.

Experts contend that a combination of genetics and environmental factors triggers the condition, Goutman said.

The study was published online May 9 in JAMA Neurology.
The study, conducted between 2011 and 2014, was funded in part by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Merit Cudkowicz is director of the ALS Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital. She said the new study "raises possibilities of the association of certain pesticides and ALS, but is far from certain."
Those possible risk factors need to be studied further, added Cudkowicz, co-author of a journal editorial accompanying the study.

Goutman and Cudkowicz recommended avoiding pesticides. This is especially wise, Goutman said, for anyone with a family history of ALS.

However, it "really is hard to avoid" these chemicals, he noted, adding they're in the air and soil, and often linger for years.

More information
To learn more about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, visit the ALS Association.

Effects of Artificial Sweeteners During Pregnancy

Artificial Sweeteners During Pregnancy May Make for Heavier Infants

Pregnant women who drink artificially sweetened drinks every day may be more likely to give birth to heavier babies who are then more likely to become overweight children, researchers report.

"Infants born to women who regularly consumed one or more artificially sweetened beverages during pregnancy were twice as likely to be overweight by 1 year of age," said study author Meghan Azad, a research scientist at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada.

By her definition, an overweight baby weighs more than 97 percent of other babies of the same height and weight.

This is the first study to investigate the potential effect of consuming artificial sweeteners during pregnancy and infant weight gain, Azad said. Interestingly, the researchers did not find any connection between drinking sugar-sweetened drinks and infant weight.
And the effects were not explained by maternal weight, diet, total calories consumed or other obesity risk factors, she added.

Although the study didn't prove that artificially sweetened drinks cause infant weight gain, "caution is warranted," Azad said.
"Given the current epidemic of childhood obesity and widespread use of artificial sweeteners, further research is warranted to confirm our findings and investigate the underlying biological mechanisms.
Ultimately, this research could help improve dietary recommendations for pregnant women," Azad said.

For the study, Azad and her colleagues collected data on more than 3,000 mothers and their babies. The women were asked what drinks they consumed during pregnancy. Nearly 30 percent said they drank artificially sweetened beverages, including 5 percent who reported drinking them on a daily basis.

The consumption of artificially sweetened drinks was determined by how often women drank soda or iced tea containing artificial sweeteners or added sweeteners to coffee or tea, Azad explained. The researchers could not determine which artificial sweeteners were consumed in each case.

The study findings were published online May 9 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
One health expert had a theory on the potential link.

"Limited research has suggested that artificial sweeteners may degrade the body's innate mechanisms for sensing caloric intake and responding with feelings of fullness," said Mark Pereira, an associate professor of epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

However, it may not be that artificially sweetened beverages cause these effects on the fetus and young child. It could instead be the physical and biological characteristics of the women who choose to consume these beverages frequently, he said.

"A couple of other studies have also raised concern about the possible negative impacts of maternal consumption of artificially sweetened beverages on the fetus and offspring," said Pereira, who co-authored a journal editorial accompanying the study.

"Since we do not yet really understand if these are real causal effects, women should refrain from consuming artificial sweeteners during pregnancy," he added.

The Calorie Control Council, which represents the low-calorie food and beverage industry, stood by the safety of artificial sweeteners.

"Before a low-calorie sweetener may be used in foods or beverages, it must be determined by relevant regulatory bodies to be safe for all populations, including special groups such as the elderly, children, and pregnant and nursing women," Robert Rankin, president of the council, said in a statement.

"These safety assessments include an evaluation of possible effects of low-calorie sweeteners during pregnancy and [they] continue to show that these sweeteners are safe for pregnant women and their children," Rankin said.

Not only that, he added, but "low-calorie sweeteners can help pregnant women avoid excess calories... Excess weight gain during pregnancy can be harmful to both the mother and developing baby."

More information
Visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for more on healthy eating while pregnant.

Swaddling May Increase Chances of SIDS

If infants are swaddled during sleep, their risk of dying from SIDS is higher, especially if they are placed on their stomachs, new research suggests.
Swaddling is defined in various ways, but it typically refers to wrapping a child snugly in a blanket or cloth, with head exposed but arms inside. Swaddling is thought to have a calming influence on babies that helps them sleep.
However, swaddling can be risky, the new study finds.
"Babies who were swaddled were 50 to 60 percent more likely to die of SIDS," said lead researcher Dr. Rachel Moon, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Moon's team analyzed the results of four previously published studies. The studies spanned two decades and included regions of England, Tasmania in Australia, as well as Chicago.
While the overall SIDS risk was increased with swaddling, the risk was even greater when swaddled babies were placed on their stomachs to sleep, Moon said. Those infants, compared to those not swaddled, had about 13 times the risk of dying from SIDS, also known as sudden infant death syndrome, she said.
The risk also increased as infants approached 6 months of age, Moon said, when they are likely to be able to roll over by themselves. Most babies can do that by around 4 months of age, she noted.
Moon said she couldn't explain the link, and the study could not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between swaddling and SIDS risk.
The analysis also had some limitations, such as the fact that swaddling was defined differently in the four studies.
SIDS killed about 1,500 children in the United States in 2014, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's the leading cause of death in babies under 1 year of age. It is defined as a sudden death in an infant that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation, including an autopsy.
In the studies reviewed, 760 babies who died of SIDS were compared with 1,759 who did not.
The findings seem to support current medical advice to avoid placing infants on their stomach or side to sleep, Moon said.
"The take-home messages are, if the baby is getting old enough where they can roll, they shouldn't be swaddled," and they shouldn't sleep on their stomachs or sides, Moon said.
However, another expert sees a slightly different take-home message.
"I normally don't recommend swaddling to put them to sleep for the night," said Dr. Gloria Riefkohl, a pediatrician at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami.
"I think swaddling should be done [only with observation]," she said. "Any swaddling should be done with the baby in your arms, or [while] observing the baby."
Even if the baby "co-sleeps" with the parents, Riefkohle does not recommend swaddling for nighttime sleep at all.
The study is published in the May 9 online edition of the journal Pediatrics.
More information
To learn more about SIDS, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What You Need to Know About the Zika Virus

What is Zika?

Zika is a virus first discovered in 1947 and named after the Zika forest in Uganda. The first human cases of Zika were detected in 1952, but until last year there had been only isolated outbreaks occurring mainly in tropical locales.

How is it transmitted?

Zika is spread primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected by drinking the blood of a person infected with Zika, and then spread the disease to other people.
A man infected with Zika can transmit the virus through sexual intercourse. Also, people can be infected if they are given a blood transfusion tainted with Zika.

Who faces the greatest health risk from Zika?
Four out of five people infected with Zika do not develop any symptoms. Those who do most often suffer from mild symptoms that include fever, rash, joint pain or red eyes.
The true risk of Zika is to a developing fetus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that Zika can cause terrible birth defects if a pregnant woman is infected with the virus.

What kind of birth defects does Zika cause?
Microcephaly is the most common birth defect caused by Zika, and it involves abnormally small development of the head and brain. Zika also causes other brain-related birth defects, and can result in miscarriage, according to the CDC.

What are the chances Zika exposure during pregnancy will cause microcephaly?
Not every fetus exposed to Zika develops a birth defect. Women infected with Zika have given birth to apparently healthy babies, although health experts can't guarantee that these babies won't develop problems later in life. No one knows what the odds are that a birth defect will occur. This is one of the CDC's ongoing areas of research.

What can a woman who's pregnant or trying to get pregnant do to protect herself?
Women of child-bearing age who live in an active Zika region should protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, using mosquito repellent when outside, and staying indoors as much as possible.
Women should use condoms or refrain from sex with a male partner if they are living in an active Zika area. They also should follow these precautions for at least 8 weeks if the man has traveled to an active Zika area, or for at least 6 months if the man has been diagnosed with Zika.

What can be done if a pregnant woman is infected with Zika?
There is no cure or vaccine for Zika. Pregnant women infected with Zika will be monitored by doctors, who will closely track fetal development.

Will a Zika infection threaten all future pregnancies?
The CDC has said there's no evidence that a past Zika virus infection will endanger future pregnancies. It appears that once the virus has been cleared from a person's bloodstream, it poses no risk to any subsequent pregnancies.

What other illnesses can Zika cause?
Zika has been associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), a rare disease of the nervous system in which a person's immune system attacks nerve cells. The disease causes muscle weakness and, less frequently, paralysis. Most people recover fully, but some have permanent damage and about one in 20 die.

CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden has said it is very likely that Zika causes GBS, given that the syndrome also is triggered by a number of different bacterial or viral infections. However, the link has not been confirmed. The CDC is investigating.

Where in the U.S. is Zika likely to become active?
Zika already is active in the territory of Puerto Rico, where one death has been reported, as well as American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Public health officials expect Zika to strike first in the continental United States in Florida, Louisiana or Texas, once the mosquito season gets underway. The A. aegypti mosquito can range as far north as San Francisco, Kansas City and New York City, although health officials have said infections that far north are unlikely.

What can I do to reduce the risk of Zika becoming active in my neighborhood?
People can help reduce their area's risk by eliminating mosquito habitats from their property. Get rid of any source of standing water, such as buckets, plastic covers, toys or old tires. Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools and potted plants once a week. Drain or fill with dirt any temporary pools of water, and keep swimming pool water treated and circulating, according to the CDC.
Report any mosquito activity in your neighborhood to your local mosquito control program.

What should I do if I think I've been exposed to Zika?
The CDC recommends that people contact their health care provider if they are suffering from Zika-like symptoms, particularly if they are pregnant. Tests are available that can confirm Zika infection.

Is there a vaccine for Zika?
No, but the CDC is working with pharmaceutical companies to ramp up research into a vaccine for the virus.

11 May 2016

Scholarship Positions Newsletter

Apply by 17th of June for the Victoria University International Scholarships

International students must apply to study at the Victoria University, Australia by 17th of June to be considered for the Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships 2017. The Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships offer support to internationals to undertake study, research or professional development […] Apply Now

Jiangsu Province China Government Scholarships for International students, 2016

Jiangsu Provincial Government has set up the “Jasmine Jiangsu Government Scholarship” for international students. These scholarships will be provided to excellent overseas students or scholars to undertake full-time study in universities and colleges of Jiangsu province. The scholarship aim is […] Apply Now

2016-2017 ITTO Fellowship Programme for International Students, Japan

Applications are invited for ITTO Fellowship Programme available for international students from ITTO Member countries.[…] Apply Now

The Science of Everyday Thinking - UQx

Learn more about The Science of Everyday Thinking from UQx

Think smarter. Explore the psychology of everyday thinking. Understand how opinions are formed and why we often make irrational choices. Discover new ways to influence others and learn how to use scientific methods to boost your memory and make better decisions.

Yale University Visiting Graduate Student Summer Fellowships in USA, 2016

The Beinecke Library is pleased to offer Visiting Graduate Student Summer Fellowships for the year 2016. The US, as well as Non-US citizens, are eligible to apply for this fellowship programme. The University provides modern educational and research environments that […] Apply Now

SUPRA Nordic Scholarship Programme 2016

The SUPRA Nordic scholarship is one of the most important features of NIAS’ Support Programme for Asian Studies. It is designed to make NIAS’ digital library and other resources accessible to PhD candidates and MA students in the Nordic countries. […] Apply Now

Internship/Traineeship Opportunity – UNITAR Geneva

The UNITAR Knowledge Systems Innovation Unit (KSI) is offering an internship/traineeship opportunity for young professionals or postgraduate students to contribute to the communication and out reach activities of the International Law for Development portfolio. Starting date: 6 June 2016 Deadline […] Apply Now

One PhD Position, Lipid binding proteins in autophagy, Norway

One PhD position is available for 3 or 4 (including teaching) years at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Molecular Medicine, Division of Biochemistry in the research group of professor Anne Simonsen. Job Description The research fellow will work on the […] Apply Now

PhD Studentship in Data Analytics for Smart Healthcare at the University of Kent in UK, 2016

The University of Kent is pleased to offer Ph.D. Studentships in Data Analytics for Smart Healthcare. UK applicants are eligible to apply for the studentship. The main aim of this Ph.D. research programme is to explore the development of techniques […] Apply Now

Rihanna Launches Global Scholarship Program

Rihanna is rewarding hard work, work, work through a global scholarship program courtesy of her Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF). The Grammy-winning entertainer looks to award international students enrolling in a U.S. college. Clara Lionel Foundation Global Scholarship Program in USA, […] Apply Now

University of London Summer Sales Internship at Simplee Aloe Drinks, 2016

Applications are invited for Summer Internship – Sales Internship at Simplee Aloe Drinks in UK for the year 2016. Applicants must have Strong interpersonal skills and Fluent English is essential. Interns will get the salary £7.20 per hour and the internship […] Apply Now

UNICEF Internship for International Applicants In USA, 2016

UNICEF is pleased to offer internship in USA for the year 2016. Applicants will be enrolled in a graduate (Master’s) degree or undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree. International applicants are eligible to apply for this internship programme. Internships at UNICEF are non-remunerative. […] Apply Now

Free Online Course to Prepare for Career Success at University

Goldsmiths, University of London is offering free course to Prepare for Career Success at University. This 3 week is aimed at anyone who is thinking about entering higher education or making a career change in the near future. The overall […] Apply Now

10 May 2016

The Link Between Child's Obesity And Mom's Pregnancy Weight

Child's Obesity Tied to Mom's Pregnancy Weight: Study

A mother's excess weight gain or elevated blood sugar levels in pregnancy may put her child at increased risk for being overweight or obese, a new study finds.

"When women have elevated blood sugar and gain excess weight during pregnancy, it seems to change the baby's metabolism to 'imprint' the baby for childhood obesity," said study lead author Dr. Teresa Hillier. She's a senior investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore.

"We're not sure yet of the exact mechanism of this change, but it appears the baby is adapting to an overfed environment, whether from glucose or extra weight," Hillier said in a Kaiser news release.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 24,000 mothers and their children in three states, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. All the children were normal weight (5.5 to 8.8 pounds) at birth and were followed to age 10.

Those children whose mothers had elevated blood sugar during pregnancy were at increased risk for obesity, the study found. The risk was greatest when mothers had gestational diabetes, the highest level of elevated blood sugar.

Compared to children whose mothers had normal blood sugar during pregnancy, those whose mothers had elevated blood sugar were at least 30 percent more likely to be overweight or obese by age 10, the study found.

Compared to children whose mothers gained less than 40 pounds during pregnancy, those whose mothers gained more than that were at least 15 percent more likely to be overweight or obese during their first decade.

Women should gain no more than 40 pounds during pregnancy, according to the Institute of Medicine.

The study findings were published May 6 in Maternal and Child Health Journal.

More than one-third of American children and teens are overweight or obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"We can't wait until the baby is born to determine and address the impact on childhood obesity," Hillier said. "We need to intervene during the mom's pregnancy to help her with nutritional and lifestyle changes that will result in healthy weight gain, healthy blood sugar, and ultimately, healthy children."

More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on childhood obesity.

9 May 2016

Harsh Parenting May Harm a Child

Harsh Parenting May Harm a Child's Physical Health

     style="display:block"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-4014406330003101"
     data-ad-slot="7834192676"
     data-ad-format="auto">

Harsh parenting may leave more than psychological scars, it might also leave lasting physical problems -- such as obesity -- even into young adulthood, new research suggests.
And having one kind, caring parent doesn't seem to counteract the effects of the harsh parent.

"Harshness, as we measured it, is always bad for kids. But it is particularly bad if the adolescent perceives high levels of warmth and support from the other parent," said study lead author Thomas Schofield.

The researchers defined "harsh" parenting as angry, hostile and antisocial.
Until now, "we did not know if parenting that was harsh -- while not falling into the category of abuse -- could predict physical health," said Schofield, an assistant professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University.

For the study, Schofield and his colleagues examined the results of a study of 451 children. All were seventh-grade students in eight Iowa counties in 1989.

The researchers studied their families, even videotaping how they interacted in their homes. Then, the investigators followed the children's health through age 20. All of the families lived in small towns or on farms. All were white and spoke English.

The study authors also asked kids questions about their health and whether their parents showed warmth to them by expressing caring or appreciation.

The findings showed evidence that harsh parenting appears to have a measurable impact on the health of kids. When parents were "hostile, angry, and antisocial towards their adolescent," Schofield said, the kids were more likely to report declines in their physical health and to gain extra weight.

Meanwhile, "warmth from the second parent did not consistently buffer or protect the adolescent from the harshness from the first parent," he said.

When the researchers looked at body mass index (BMI) -- a ratio of weight to height -- they found that the harmful effects of the harsh parent on BMI increased even as the warmth of the other parent went up.

Still, "we cannot prove harsh parenting was the cause" of worse health, Schofield said.

The study didn't tease out possible reasons why a harsh parent might cause lasting physical harm. But, Schofield said, stress in childhood does hurt people's health over their lives.

Michael MacKenzie is an associate professor of social work and pediatrics at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He said stress may indeed be the cause of health issues in kids with harsh parents. The reason: there's evidence that stress disrupts the functioning of the immune system and growth hormones, he said.

Schofield said the new study findings should help show parents that their behavior matters. "Parents reacting emotionally to life stress or parenting stress is natural, and can require concerted effort to master," he added.

Schofield said parents should consider their actions with their kids and think about whether they'd act differently in public when people are watching.

"If we're behaving one way at home and another way in public, some part of us knows we're doing something we feel the need to hide," he said. "And if a child ever begins to behave as though they're on edge, afraid, or timid around the parent, that's a sign that something needs to shift."

Self-help books and therapy can be useful, Schofield said.
"All of these options require parents to admit 'We may have in the past done things that hurt our children,' and 'We can improve [our] parenting behaviors,' " he said. "Acknowledging those two truths is very hard, but it is probably the first step, and it is universally true because none of us are perfect parents."

The study was published recently in the journal Social Science & Medicine.

More information
For details on practicing parenting skills, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Statins Might Protect People With Narrowed Leg Arteries

Cholesterol-lowering statins may spare people with narrowed leg arteries from the possibility of amputation and even death, a new study suggests.

The higher the dose of these drugs, the lower the risk of both outcomes, the researchers found.
"PAD, a narrowing of the peripheral arteries to the legs, stomach, arms and head, is the next cardiovascular epidemic," said study author Dr. Shipra Arya. She is an assistant professor in the division of vascular surgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

For the study, the researchers analyzed health information on more than 200,000 veterans with peripheral artery disease (PAD) from the Veterans Affairs' database.

They identified those who were taking statins around the time they were diagnosed with PAD. The researchers also recorded the veterans' dosage of these drugs.

During an average follow-up period of 5.2 years, the veterans were divided into three groups: those taking high doses of statins, those taking moderate to low doses of the drugs, and those who did not take statins.

The study revealed that those with PAD who took high doses of statins had a 33 percent lower risk for amputation and a 29 percent lower risk of death than those who didn't take these drugs.

Meanwhile, the patients on a moderate or low dose of statins had a 22 percent lower risk of amputation and death.

The findings suggest, but don't prove, that "patients who have been diagnosed with PAD should be considered for placement on high-dose statins upon diagnosis if they can tolerate it, along with other medical management, including smoking cessation, anti-platelet [anti-clotting] therapy and a walking program," Arya said in a news release from the American Heart Association.

The findings were to be presented Friday at an American Heart Association meeting in Nashville. Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More information
The U.S. National Library of Medicine provides more information on statins.

Portable Zika Test Shows Promising Results

Portable Zika Test Shows Promise in Monkeys

A fast, inexpensive test that detects the Zika virus in monkeys might be useful for doctors working far from hospitals, researchers say.

The portable test can detect Zika in the serum (blood or possibly saliva) of infected monkeys at much lower concentrations than previously possible, according to the Harvard University researchers.

The test, which can be freeze-dried and stored for up to a year, could provide physicians hundreds of miles away from the nearest hospital with a way to quickly detect Zika virus in people, the researchers said.

Because it's a color-change test, even untrained people can easily determine whether Zika is present in a sample, said the team from Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, in Boston.

While testing and development is still taking place, the scientists said the test might be ready for use in certain clinics or laboratories within several months.

The study was published May 6 in the journal Cell.

If field tests are successful, "the test's low cost and minimal equipment also means that it can be used for monitoring the spread of illnesses across large populations of people, enabling us to monitor the pathogen as an outbreak is occurring," researcher James Collins said in a journal news release.

Organizations "like the WHO (World Health Organization) can use this information to get ahead of an outbreak in order to contain it and save lives," he added.

More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the Zika virus.

Shortages of Lifesaving Drug

Shortages of Lifesaving Drugs Linger in U.S.

Drug shortages remain a problem in the United States despite government legislation meant to boost availability, a new study finds.
More than half of recent shortages involved acute-care drugs used to treat seriously ill patients in hospitals and emergency departments, according to researchers at Yale University, in New Haven, Conn.

Those drugs include antibiotics, intravenous saline and naloxone, which is used to treat drug overdoses.

"Our key finding was that up to 2012, shortages were rising for both non-acute and acute drugs," said study senior author Dr. Arjun Venkatesh, an assistant professor of emergency medicine.

Since 2012, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was authorized to deal with the crisis, "the shortages for non-acute drugs are decreasing and getting shorter but the shortages for acute drugs are increasing and getting longer," Venkatesh said in a Yale news release.

According to the researchers, drugs in short supply tripled over the past decade.

For the study, the Yale researchers analyzed data from 2001 to 2014. They found the overall number of drug shortages declined after the FDA gained its new powers, which could wrongly suggest drug availability is no longer a problem, the study authors said.

"You could look at the passage of the law and the overall decline, and view it as a success," Venkatesh said. "That's not the case. These acute-care drugs have been ignored."

Also, shortages of acute-care drugs lasted about eight months on average, compared to about seven months for all drugs overall, the study found.

Resorting to alternative drugs can raise the likelihood of medical error and push up costs and side effects, compared to the preferred drugs, the researchers noted.

The study appears in the May issue of the journal Health Affairs.

More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration has more on drug shortages.

Daily Blood Thinner Needed for Irregular Heartbeat

Is Daily Blood Thinner Needed for Irregular Heartbeat?

A smartphone app might offer an alternative for certain patients with an irregular heartbeat who must take risky blood-thinning medication every day to lower their risk for stroke.

New research suggests some people with atrial fibrillation might do just as well by diligently monitoring their pulse, perhaps recording their heartbeat via a smartphone EKG, and only taking such drugs on an as-needed basis.

Atrial fibrillation is a serious condition characterized by an abnormal or irregular heart rhythm. Uncontrolled, it can lead to blood clotting and stroke.

Blood-thinning drugs, called anticoagulants, are the usual treatment. For years, the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin) has been the top go-to drug for such patients.

"The problem is that long-term use of anticoagulants is associated with an increased risk of bleeding," explained study co-author Dr. Francis Marchlinski. He is director of cardiac electrophysiology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

"So if you don't need them continuously, it's reasonable to try to avoid them as much as possible.
Minor bleeding events can become a major event, or even life-threatening," Marchlinski added.

The new investigation focused on a newer class of blood thinners known as novel anticoagulants (NOACs). These include rivaroxaban (Xarelto), apixaban (Eliquis), and dabigatran (Pradaxa).

These drugs work faster than warfarin and can apply to a broader pool of patients, including those with "non-valvular" atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm unrelated to a heart-valve problem), researchers say.

Compared to warfarin, ongoing use of NOAC meds is less commonly associated with major bleeding, but bleeding resulting from NOAC use is considered more difficult to treat, the researchers explained.

This approach isn't appropriate for all atrial fibrillation patients, however.
"This potential strategy for intermittent use is only intended for patients with electrocardiogram-demonstrated control of atrial fibrillation, who have undergone an extended period of monitoring, and
who are avid pulse-takers that can recognize their atrial fibrillation if it occurs," cautioned Marchlinski, a professor of medicine at Penn's Perelman School of Medicine. "In other words, it's a very select group of highly motivated patients."

Marchlinski and his colleagues are scheduled to present their findings Friday in San Francisco at the
annual meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society.

To assess the potential of an "as-needed" approach to anticoagulant use for atrial fibrillation, the team focused on 100 patients, aged 56 to 72, previously on a daily regimen of NOAC medications.

When the study was launched, none had shown signs of atrial fibrillation trouble for an "extended period of time." All checked their pulse twice daily, including nine who monitored their heart rhythm using a smartphone-enabled device.

Such devices have become increasingly accessible and accurate in recent years, the study authors said.

In close consultation with their physicians, the patients were given NOAC drugs to have on hand. The study participants were told to avoid taking them unless they suspected or were sure they were experiencing an atrial fibrillation-related event lasting between one to two hours. Patient-controlled twice daily pulse-monitoring was mandatory.

Over the following 18 months, about one-quarter of the patients had to take their NOAC blood-thinning medication at least once. Only six patients ultimately ended up returning to a daily regimen of NOAC, the study found.

Also, none of the patients experienced either a stroke or transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke). And only one experienced what was described as "a minor bleeding event."

Still, the researchers cautioned that the current study is an investigational "pilot study," and said more research will be needed to confirm the findings.

Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, seconded that point.

"As this was a relatively small study of a select group of patients with a modest follow-up period and without a control group, larger studies with longer-term follow-up are needed before this strategy should be further considered," Fonarow said.

Moreover, data and conclusions presented at meetings are usually considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

More information
There's more on atrial fibrillation at the American Heart Association.

Climatic Changes And Heart Failure

Heart Failure Risk Seems to Rise in Winter

When there's a real chill in the air, your risk of being hospitalized for heart failure rises, a new study suggests.

Cold weather also seems to boost the risk of hospitalization for both heart failure and atrial fibrillation, a condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm.
"In the past, seasonal differences have been noted for heart attacks and strokes," said study co-author
Dr. Abhishek Deshmukh, a cardiac electrophysiologist with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
"We looked at seasonal differences in patients getting hospitalized for heart failure and atrial fibrillation from a large national hospitalizations database," he added. "We found that during cooler months, especially in February, the rates of hospitalizations are the highest.

"It is striking that people get more sick with cardiac diseases during cooler months," Deshmukh said. "Whether it is the cooler air, after-effect of holiday season or other environmental triggers needs further studies."

Deshmukh and his colleagues were to present their findings Friday at a meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society, in San Francisco.

More than five million Americans experience heart failure every year and as many as 6 million may have atrial fibrillation, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study focused on hospitalizations that occurred between 2002 and 2012 due to heart failure. That information included more than 12 million patients, a third of whom also had atrial fibrillation.

Averaging the frequency of hospitalizations across the 10-year period, the researchers found that both those with heart failure and those with heart failure and atrial fibrillation were "notably" more likely to be hospitalized during winter months compared with summer months.

The lowest month for such hospitalizations was July, the study authors said. But in the months after, hospitalizations climbed, reaching their highest rate in February. From that month forward, however, the figures started to decline, until again reaching a low point the following July.

Though Deshmukh said it's unclear what exactly drives these seasonal differences, he identified a number of "plausible reasons." They include: seasonally provoked changes in bodily fluid balances, changing levels of naturally occurring hormones, a rise in infection risk, and shifting air pollution environments.

The cooler ambient air of winter may itself serve as a potential trigger, he added, given that cooler air can provoke an increase in blood pressure.

That point was seconded by Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a cardiology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"Blood pressure is higher in winter, which can worsen heart failure," he said. "Also during winter months, there are higher rates of respiratory tract infections, which increase heart failure risk."

An increase of salt intake in winter months may also be problematic, he noted.
Deshmukh said he believes that increasing "awareness of this 'winter effect' may lead to more attention to symptoms."

Still, is there anything patients can do to proactively cut down the likelihood of cold weather heart trouble?

Unfortunately, no, said Deshmukh, who added that more research is needed to explore what steps patients can take to modify or diminish the wintertime risk.

Meeting results are typically viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More information
There's more on heart failure at the American Heart Association.

HIV Decline Falls Short of U.S

HIV Decline Falls Short of U.S. 5-Year Goal

Although HIV infection and transmission rates in the United States declined over the past five years, they fell short of White House targets, a new study finds.

Between 2010 and 2015, new HIV infections decreased 11 percent and transmission of the AIDS-causing virus declined 17 percent, far less than the goals set in 2010 as part of the U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), researchers said.

The NHAS goals for 2015 were reductions of 25 percent for new HIV infections and 30 percent declines in HIV transmission.

"Even though we missed the goals by a sizable margin, it's promising to see that we made important progress in reducing rates of HIV infection and transmission," said lead study author Robert Bonacci.
He is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

The aim was to lower the persistent HIV infection rate (about 50,000 cases a year) through a more coordinated national response, improved access and care for people with HIV, and a reduction in HIV-related health disparities, the study authors noted.

"Scaling up HIV treatment and care alone was not enough," Bonacci said in a university news release. "We need a simultaneous expansion of diagnostic and prevention services, paired with an intensified focus on communities disproportionately affected by HIV."

He said these communities include gay men, young people, transgender people, black Americans, Hispanics and those who live in the southern United States.

The researchers' analysis of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showed that between 2010 and 2015, the number of new HIV infections fell annually from nearly 37,400 to just over 33,200. Meanwhile, the rate of HIV transmission decreased from 3.16 to 2.61 (a 17 percent reduction), the study found.

During that time, the number of people living with HIV rose from just over 1.18 million to 1.27 million. Also, deaths of people with HIV from all causes fell from about 17,800 to 16,000, the findings showed.

The findings were published online April 29 in the journal AIDS and Behavior.

The researchers said that since the NHAS was launched, there has been little growth in funding for HIV programs in the nation, with the exception of increased funding for HIV treatment. Last year, the White House extended the NHAS through 2020.

"After the release of the first National HIV/AIDS Strategy, researchers cautioned that failure to expand diagnostic, prevention and care services to necessary levels would result in underachievement on the NHAS goals for 2015," said study senior author David Holtgrave.

"Our analysis suggests that is just what happened," said Holtgrave, chair of the department of health, behavior and society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
"HIV prevention efforts must be reinvigorated in the NHAS's second era," he added.

More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on HIV/AIDS.