Holy Hormones Journal » Heart Health

Merck Must Defend Securities-Fraud Claims Over Risks of Vioxx, Judge Rules

Leslie Carol Botha — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:59:03 +0000

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If Merck did this with Vioxx – then they have done this with Gardasil……Gardasil is not a cervical cancer vaccine and HPV is not a disease…..Merck’s two big marketing campaigns. LB

Bloomberg

By David Voreacos – Aug 10, 2011 1:54 PM MT

Merck & Co. must defend a lawsuit claiming it violated securities laws by downplaying the cardiovascular risks of its Vioxx painkiller before the company pulled the drug from the market in 2004, a judge ruled.

Merck, the second-biggest U.S. drugmaker, withdrew Vioxx after a study showed it doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Investors adequately stated a case that Merck misrepresented the drug’s safety profile, said U.S. District Judge Stanley Chesler in Newark, New Jersey.

Investors also can pursue claims that Merck misled them about a 2000 study, known as Vigor, which reported that the medicine caused five times more heart attacks than another painkiller, naproxen, Chesler ruled. Merck said one explanation was that naproxen protected the heart.

The judge ruled that investors “plausibly suggest that Merck had no reasonable basis for its public characterization of the Vigor results as ‘likely’ due to naproxen’s cardioprotective quality,” according to Chesler’s Aug. 8 decision.

Merck, based in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, faces potential legal costs of at least $7.7 billion related to Vioxx, including $4.85 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits claiming injuries. It also set aside $1.9 billion for legal costs. Last October, Merck said it set aside $950 million to resolve a criminal probe.

“Merck continues to believe that this lawsuit is without merit, and will continue to defend itself vigorously against these claims,” Ronald Rogers, a spokesman for the company, said today in a phone interview.

The case is Merck & Co., Inc., Securities, Derivative & ‘ERISA’ Litigation, MDL-1658, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey (Newark).

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Older Moms’ Estrogen Pill Carries Blood Clot Risk: CDC Report

Leslie Carol Botha — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:17:46 +0000

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Thirdage.com

Posted by Sheila Ring on July 11, 2011 9:44 AM

Older moms’ estrogen pills should be avoided, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned, after it found they can raise the risk of blood clots.

CDC officials said that women who have recently given birth and are older than 34, or who had a C-section, should steer clear of certain types of oral contraceptives.

Hormonal contraceptives taken during the first 21 days after delivery create a high risk for venous thromboembolism, or blood clots, the CDC said.

The Atlanta-based CDC is presently issuing updated recommendations for the use of combined hormonal contraceptives for post-partum women.

“During 21 to 42 days post-partum, women without risk factors for venous thromboembolism generally can initiate combined hormonal contraceptives,” they said in a statement.

“But women with risk factors for venous thromboembolism generally should not use these methods,” the CDC continued.

Blood clots, if they travel to the lungs or the brain, can lead to serious complications, including stroke, shortness of breath, or even death.

These findings were detailed by one of the guidelines’ authors, Dr. Naomi Tepper, an ob-gyn in the CDC’s division of reproductive health.

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Birth control pills the largest uncontrolled medical experiment on women in the history of medicine….

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Cardiovascular disease in women—often silent and fatal

Leslie Carol Botha — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 17:14:17 +0000

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The Lancet

Volume 378, Issue 9787, Page 200, 16 July 2011

On June 21, two US organisations, WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease and the Society for Women’s Health Research, released 2011 10QReport: Advancing Women’s Heart Health Through Improved Research, Diagnosis and Treatment. The report emphasises the burden of cardiovascular disease in women and the disappointing lack of research into this predicament.

Although cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the USA, more women die yearly—close to 500 000. Women are twice as likely as men to have heart failure, 1·5 times more likely to die within a year of a heart attack, and twice as likely to have a poor outcome after a coronary artery bypass graft. Furthermore, the cardiovascular mortality rate is rising in women younger than 55 years. Women often have non-chest-pain-specific cardiovascular symptoms. Two-thirds of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no symptoms, probably reflecting a distinct microvasculature cause of cardiovascular disease in women.

Women’s cardiovascular risk factors are understudied. Psychosocial factors such as depression and stress are more common in women than men, and pregnancy-related complications (eg, gestational diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia) significantly increase cardiovascular disease later in life. The exact nature of oestrogen’s protective effect on premenopausal cardiovascular risk remains unclear.

Guidelines for management of cardiovascular disease are primarily targeted at men because women are under-represented in clinical trials. Only a third of trials in cardiovascular disease publish sex-specific results even though US regulations require sex stratification. Although cardiovascular disease contributes 25% of total mortality and morbidity in the USA, relevant cardiovascular research receives only 4% of National Institute of Health funding.

Many American women are unaware of the risk posed by cardiovascular disease, which is an order of magnitude greater than that of breast cancer. Education and advocacy is needed across ethnic and socioeconomic strata to make women aware that the biggest threat to their health is their heart. Researchers must also redouble their efforts to study and improve outcomes for women at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Happy People don’t Get Heart Disease

Leslie Carol Botha — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:50:59 +0000

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WYDDTY
What Your Doctor’s Don’t Tell You

July 14, 2011

Accentuating the positive can help you live longer. People who are generally happy and satisfied with their lives are far less likely to develop heart disease – and the happier you are, the lower the risk goes.

The effect is so significant – people satisfied with their lives are 13 per cent less likely to develop coronary heart disease – that the researchers believe it is an approach that has genuine therapeutic value.
It could be especially effective in people who are currently at greater risk of heart disease, because of their weight, diet or lifestyle.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health assessed the happiness of around 8000 British civil servants, who were measured for their levels of satisfaction on their job, family life, sex life and themselves.
(Source: European Heart Journal, 2011; doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehr203).

Lipids, Menopause, and Early Atherosclerosis in Study of Women’s Health across the Nation Heart Women

Leslie Carol Botha — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:59:26 +0000

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Medscape Today

Genevieve A. Woodard, PhD; Maria M. Brooks, PhD; Emma Barinas-Mitchell, PhD; Rachel H. Mackey, PhD; Karen A. Matthews, PhD; Kim Sutton-Tyrrell, DrPH

Authors and Disclosures

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Objective: The risk of cardiovascular disease increases after menopause. Recent evidence suggests that it is possible for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to become proatherogenic or dysfunctional in certain situations. Our objective was to evaluate whether the relationship of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) to subclinical cardiovascular disease differed across the menopausal transition, which would provide insight for this increased risk.

Methods: Aortic calcification (AC), coronary artery calcification (CAC), carotid plaque, and intima media thickness (IMT) were measured in an ancillary study of the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Women not using hormone therapy were stratified into premenopausal or early perimenopausal (Pre/EP, n = 316) and late perimenopausal or postmenopausal (LP/Post, n = 224).

Results: The inverse relationship of HDL-C to subclinical atherosclerosis measures among Pre/EP women was weaker or reversed among LP/Post women, adjusted for age, site, race, systolic blood pressure, glucose, body mass index, smoking, menopause status, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Specifically, multivariable modeling demonstrated an inverse association between HDL-C level and AC and IMT among Pre/EP women; however, the protective effect of HDL-C for AC, left main CAC, carotid plaque, and IMT was not seen in LP/Post women. In a small subset (n = 53), LP/Post women had more total and small HDL particles, higher triglyceride levels, and more total low-density lipoprotein particles compared with Pre/EP women (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: These results suggest that the protective effect of HDL may be diminished as women transition in menopause. Future studies should examine whether this may be due to changes in HDL size, functionality, or related changes in other lipids or lipoproteins.

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality for women. As women age, they are increasingly exposed to high levels of major CVD risk factors, including a poor lipid profile and weight gain. In addition to adverse changes associated with chronological aging, women experience the biological changes of the menopausal transition. Decreasing estrogen levels during the transition have been linked to endothelial dysfunction and larger vessel diameters, markers of early adverse vascular changes.^[1–5] Therefore, the decreased estrogen level after the menopausal transition leaves the vasculature vulnerable to CVD risk factors, such as lipids.

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SIR: Leaky Vein Valves Time to Menstrual Cycle

Leslie Carol Botha — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:24:20 +0000

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MedPage Today

By Crystal Phend, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: March 29, 2011
Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and
Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner

CHICAGO — Where a woman is in her menstrual cycle may affect varicose vein diagnosis, according to a small exploratory study.

Women complaining of classic symptoms of varicose veins but no abnormalities in the long saphenous vein presented a very different picture when they returned right before their menstrual period or when symptomatic, Praveen Anchala, MD, and Scott A. Resnick, MD, both of Northwestern University in Chicago, found.

In a study of five such women, four had significant saphenous vein insufficiency on subsequent evaluation, they reported here at the Society of Interventional Radiology meeting.

Long saphenous vein diameter rose 73% on average between the evaluations.

“When evaluating menorrheal patients with history indicating likely insufficiency but no objective findings on initial evaluation, it may be beneficial to reevaluate these patients in the immediate premenstrual period,” Anchala told attendees at the session.

John A. Kaufman, MD, of the Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland, agreed.

“This is a very interesting observation in a small number of patients that could have significant consequences with respect to the diagnosis and management of venous reflux in menstruating women,” he told MedPage Today in an email.

Another implication is that “stocking use during menstruation may eliminate symptoms and avoid treating a saphenous vein that is normal most of the time,” said Kaufman, who was not involved in the study.

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Duh….a study needs to be conducted on this? Ask any menstruating woman with varicose veins and she will tell you that get worse during the paramenstrum. Jeesh…

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Women can bank on menstrual blood stem cells to cure illness

Leslie Carol Botha — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 04:56:56 +0000

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Hindustan Times
West India

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, March 09, 2011

It is not too late for women, who did not store their umbilical cord for stem cells therapy. On the occasion of Women’s Day on Tuesday, LifeCell International, a private stem cell bank, introduced LifeCell Femme, a menstrual blood stem cell banking service. With this service, blood collected during a woman’s menstrual period can be processed to harvest stem cells, which can be introduced into the woman’s body if detected with illnesses such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis and certain heart ailments.

“Menstruation has so far been associated with pain and stress. However, with the possibility of harvesting stem cells from menstrual blood, women are going to be luckier than men,” Mayur Abhaya, executive director, LifeCell International, said.

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Another gimmick on women’s bodies????

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Benefits Of PMS

Leslie Carol Botha — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:13:56 +0000

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Benefit Of

February 2011

There many benefits to having regular periods, according to recent studies. Menstruation can actually improve your emotional, mental and physical health. However, many women don’t realize its benefits while others associate it with mood changes and depression. Well, here are the benefits of having your period.

1. Slows down aging signs

Did you know the getting your period can help keep signs of aging at bay? Yes, this is definitely possible. According to leading experts, women age slowly as compared to men since menstruation causes depletion of iron in the body. Irons nourish free radicals responsible for cell damage, as well as increased risk of stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and heart attack. Therefore, losing irons through menstruation can increase lifespan in women.

2. Prevents diseases

Menstruation also offers hints of diseases. Doctors can tell whether the menstrual blood has any signs of infections, thereby prevent diseases. It helps to provide invaluable information about the woman’s health.

3. Increases libido

Monthly period can improve sexual satisfaction. During menstruation, production of testosterone increases which in turn increases libido, which can make sex better (and is the primary benefit of having your period!). But, pregnancy is still inevitable if contraception is not used during intercourse, because the sperm has long lifespan.

4. Regulates hormonal changes

Regular periods provide valuable information that help to monitor hormonal changes. In fact, having regular periods is a sign of hormonal balance, provided you are not in menopause, nursing or pregnant. Although most women often associate premenstrual syndrome with hormonal changes, it is in the absence of these hormones during menstruation that cause mood change and depression.

5. Improves your appearance

Your period can also improve your appearance and mood. Menstruation actually triggers a substantial improvement in your well-being, but premenstrual syndrome does not offer similar benefits to having a period.

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Why Almost Everything You Hear About Medicine Is Wrong

Leslie Carol Botha — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:12:45 +0000

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Newsweek

January 24, 2011

If you follow the news about health research, you risk whiplash. First garlic lowers bad cholesterol, then—after more study—it doesn’t. Hormone replacement reduces the risk of heart disease in postmenopausal women, until a huge study finds that it doesn’t (and that it raises the risk of breast cancer to boot). Eating a big breakfast cuts your total daily calories, or not—as a study released last week finds. Yet even if biomedical research can be a fickle guide, we rely on it.

But what if wrong answers aren’t the exception but the rule? More and more scholars who scrutinize health research are now making that claim. It isn’t just an individual study here and there that’s flawed, they charge. Instead, the very framework of medical investigation may be off-kilter, leading time and again to findings that are at best unproved and at worst dangerously wrong. The result is a system that leads patients and physicians astray—spurring often costly regimens that won’t help and may even harm you.

It’s a disturbing view, with huge im-plications for doctors, policymakers, and health-conscious consumers. And one of its foremost advocates, Dr. John P.A. Ioannidis, has just ascended to a new, prominent platform after years of crusading against the baseless health and medical claims. As the new chief of Stanford University’s Prevention Research Center, Ioannidis is cementing his role as one of medicine’s top mythbusters. “People are being hurt and even dying” because of false medical claims, he says: not quackery, but errors in medical research.

This is Ioannidis’s moment. As medical costs hamper the economy and impede deficit-reduction efforts, policymakers and businesses are desperate to cut them without sacrificing sick people. One no-brainer solution is to use and pay for only treatments that work. But if Ioannidis is right, most biomedical studies are wrong.

In just the last two months, two pillars of preventive medicine fell. A major study concluded there’s no good evidence that statins (drugs like Lipitor and Crestor) help people with no history of heart disease. The study, by the Cochrane Collaboration, a global consortium of biomedical experts, was based on an evaluation of 14 individual trials with 34,272 patients. Cost of statins: more than $20 billion per year, of which half may be unnecessary. (Pfizer, which makes Lipitor, responds in part that “managing cardiovascular disease risk factors is complicated”). In November a panel of the Institute of Medicine concluded that having a blood test for vitamin D is pointless: almost everyone has enough D for bone health (20 nanograms per milliliter) without taking supplements or calcium pills. Cost of vitamin D: $425 million per year.

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A Writer Traces Illnesses Back to the Womb

Leslie Carol Botha — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 05:29:41 +0000

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The New York Times

By RANDI HUTTER EPSTEIN, M.D.
Published: December 27, 2010

NEW HAVEN — When the medical journalist Annie Murphy Paul’s first son was a toddler, she started wondering how personality traits are passed from one generation to the next. So she did what any reporter would do: she delved into the scientific literature and talked to investigators.

Then, in the course of her research, she became pregnant herself.

“I originally wanted to write about the transmission of characteristics and behaviors in families,” Ms. Paul, 38, said in an interview over tea and a brownie at a cafe near her home here. “That definitely came out of having my first child and thinking about what I’d want to pass on from my family and from my husband’s family.”

But then she became intrigued with new research suggesting that some important traits might be passed down in the womb, during gestation. “That struck me as an amazing idea,” she said. “Something between nature or nurture, or really both.”

The idea led to her acclaimed new book, “Origins: How the Nine Months Before Birth Shape the Rest of Our Lives” (Free Press). Divided into nine chapters that mirror the nine months of Ms. Paul’s own pregnancies, it explores the notion that heart disease, diabetes and perhaps other illnesses may have their origins during pregnancy.

This hypothesis is supported by a succession of studies. Some scientists have a hunch that a pregnant woman’s diet and her exposure to various chemicals turn on some fetal genes and turn off others. These switches play a vital role in the life of the adult-to-be, making the child more or less susceptible to disease, including mental illness.

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Holy Hormones Journal » Heart Health

Merck Must Defend Securities-Fraud Claims Over Risks of Vioxx, Judge Rules

Older Moms’ Estrogen Pill Carries Blood Clot Risk: CDC Report

Cardiovascular disease in women—often silent and fatal

Volume 378, Issue 9787, Page 200, 16 July 2011

Happy People don’t Get Heart Disease

WYDDTY What Your Doctor’s Don’t Tell You

Lipids, Menopause, and Early Atherosclerosis in Study of Women’s Health across the Nation Heart Women

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Introduction

SIR: Leaky Vein Valves Time to Menstrual Cycle

Women can bank on menstrual blood stem cells to cure illness

Hindustan Times West India

Benefits Of PMS

Why Almost Everything You Hear About Medicine Is Wrong

A Writer Traces Illnesses Back to the Womb

WYDDTY
What Your Doctor’s Don’t Tell You

Hindustan Times
West India