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Prince Charles lends support to Alternative Medicine

In an open show of support to Alternative Medicine, Britain's Prince Charles has urged the government to allocate 10 million pounds ($14.21 million) to fund a five-year research program into the effects of alternative medicine. The world is now sitting up and taking notice of holistic medicine and Prince Charles’s support to fund research in this field has come as a shot in the arm for th...

Alternative medicine more popular among HIV positive patients

Despite significant improvements in anti AIDS therapy, complimentary and alternative medicine seem to be more attractive to the AIDS positive patients, according to a new study. Among 191 HIV-positive outpatients surveyed about their use of complementary and alternative therapies, 67% said they had used alternative therapies at some point to control their HIV infection and 40% reported cu...

Complementary and Alternative medicine

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have looked at the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in over 2000 people. They find that the use of 20 therapies - from acupuncture to yoga - has increased in popularity since the 1960s. A new survey reveals that complementary and alternative medicine has always been popular, although the type of therapies used has changed over the y...

Alternative therapies popular with Parkinson's patients

Nearly half of people with Parkinson's disease are using one or more type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as vitamins, message or acupuncture. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in the US have carried out a survey of more than 200 people with Parkinson's disease. Forty per cent use one or more forms of CAM - and 12 per cent use five or more different ones. There...

Altering genes through calories

It's never too late to diet. Cutting calories for only a few weeks late in life causes anti-aging changes in mouse genes.Even those averse to weight watching might have their cake and eat it if researchers can find drugs that mimic dieting’s effects. Cutting calories is known to increase lifespan and reduce age-related disease in experimental mammals. Researchers at the University of C...

Breast feeding can alter hormones

Being nearby breastfeeding mothers can modify the length of other women's menstrual cycles, say researchers.Chemicals called pheromones given off by the mother - or their infants - made the cycles significantly longer or shorter, claims Dr.Mclintock lead researcher, from Ohio University.// She suggests this is due to the body attempting to maximise its chances of fertility as part of a...

Alternative to blood Transfusions

According to a new study, a new drug may lower the need for blood transfusions in surgical patients with acute anemia. The new drug, polymerized bovine hemoglobin (HBOC-201),// is delivered intravenously and supplies oxygen to the blood of the recipient. The structure of the HBOC-201 is smaller and more mobile than blood cells, therefore allowing the HBOC-201 molecules to effectively dist...

Alternative Therapy in HIV Patients

As more HIV-infected patients turn to complementary and alternative medicine, researchers have set out to determine the prevalence and factors associated with such use. In this study, researchers evaluated CAM use among nearly 3,000 patients enrolled in the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study. Using this sample of patients who received conventional HIV care, researchers determined...

An Alternative to Warfarin

A new study shows a new drug alternative to warfarin in reducing stroke among people with an irregular and rapid heartbeat. The research shows the drug ximelagatran appears to be as effective as warfarin.// Warfarin has been used for decades for people at high risk of stroke because of its blood thinning capability. However, some of the drawbacks of warfarin include an increased risk o...

Another Alternative For Diabetics On Insulin

New research shows inhaled insulin is effective and well tolerated in patients with type 1 diabetes. // The treatment also provides glycemic control comparable to a conventional insulin regimen. For the study, 335 participants randomly received either inhaled insulin with bedtime Ultralente or two to three injections of regular insulin for six months. Hypoglycemia, or the abnormal decrea...

The Use Of Alternative Medicine On The Rise

The use of alternative or complementary therapies have increased over the past years with more than one-third of people using // at least one form of alternative medicine. Alternative or complementary therapies include treatments such as biofeedback, yoga, hypnosis, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and high-dose vitamins. Researchers in Boston compared the results of their own survey tak...

Chances are high for Avian Influenza virus altering its form

In a release from World Health Organization (WHO) the apex medical body warns the people of South East Asia against // rapid spread of the avian influenza or bird flu virus in the area. It has also urged the medical bodies in these areas to provide full information to WHO regarding new cases of the disease. The inclusion of every available detail of the disease including their closeness...

American scientists alter gene makeup of babies

The BBC and the British Scientific journal Human Reproduction on Friday last, announced that a group of US scientists has successfully altered the genetic make up of babies. But Jacques Cohen, one of the scientists who developed the technique in the United States, denied that the children had been born with altered genes.However the journal reported on Friday that the fir...

Heart Patients Use Alternative Medicine

According to a survey of heart patients, researchers found that nearly three-quarters use some kind of alternative medicine, and almost a third take dietary supplements that could thwart their prescription medications. Kline-Rogers, at the University of Michigan Health System, found that heart patients seem to be turning to alternative therapies even more than the general population, even...

New Blood Thinner Pill - First Potential Alternative to Warfarin in 50 years

Warfarin, originally developed as a rat poison, was first used as a blood thinner in the 1950s. It is still the only oral blood thinner available to protect against clots that can block blood vessels. It is widely prescribed after //strokes, heart attacks and orthopedic surgery and is also given to prevent recurring clots in the legs or lungs.But warfarin, which takes time to kick in, int...

Red Clover- A Future Remedy For Menopause And An Alternative To HRT

Red clover is being investigated to find out how effectively it can be used to treat the hot flushes experienced during menopause. If successful, it might turn out to be an ideal alternative to the current hormone // replacement therapy instituted. It has been a problem of concern as regarding what to recommend for patients who are not willing for hormone therapy. This study has been...

Learning process to be regulated by altering brain protein

Identification of a new biochemical switch that affects how neurons fire in a part of the brain associated with learning could pave way for better understanding of schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. // A protein named “ Reelin”, an important component of the nervous system has been the focus of the research. During development, reelin sends cues to migrating neurons, telling the...

Record Growth Of Soya-Based Dairy Alternatives Over The Past Year In European Markets

A recent survey by Prosoy shows that Soy milks, yoghurts and desserts grew by 22 per cent in 2004 and that people have become even more health-conscious and more aware of food intolerance and allergies. // Researchers say that based on the current trend, sales are further expected to grow in the next three years. The study coordinators stated that they have tracked well over 130 new pr...

Record growth of Soya-based dairy alternatives in Europe

A recent survey by Prosoy shows that Soy milks, yogurts and desserts grew by 22 per cent in 2004 and shows that people have become even more health-conscious and more aware of food intolerance and allergies. // Researchers say that based on the current trend sales are further expected to grow in the next three years. According to the survey researchers also say they have tracked well o...

The Effects Of Alternative Medicine Questioned

Alternative medicine may no longer be truly alternative shows a recent Consumer Reports survey of more than 34,000 readers. The report revealed that Chiropractic was ranked ahead of all conventional treatments, including prescription drugs, // by readers with back pain. Deep-tissue massage was found to be especially effective in treating osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. While readers suff...

Drugs As Alternative To Surgery After Miscarriage

In a research report, by researchers from National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health, findings suggest that a drug used for reducing the risk of stomach ulcers in people may // also be used as an alternative to conducting surgery after a miscarriage. The study appears in the August edition of New England Journal of Medicine....

Women With Anorexia Have Altered Brain Activity

People suffering from anorexia nervosa have the similar brain activities that are associated anxiety and other emotional disorders. // The study was published in the September issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. Previous evidence has suggested that alterations in the activity of serotonin (a brain chemical involved in communication between nerve cells) may contribute to the appeti...

Parental Behavior And Movies Can Alter Perceptions About Smoking

According to the latest issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, research reports say that the perception of children in the age group of two to six years old were different about cigarettes and alcohol if they are exposed to the same in movies or if parents smoked as well. // When pretending to shop for a social evening, children two to six years old were nearly four tim...

HIIP- A Novel Inhaled Insulin Delivery System As An Alternative To Injectable Insulin Therapy

The disease burden of diabetes continues to grow and currently affects more that 18 million Americans and their families. These data emphasize a need for alternative diabetes therapies with earlier more physiologic use of insulin.// The delivery of insulin by the lung may provide an attractive alternative for many patients with diabetes. However, alternative insulin delivery systems mus...

Age-Dependent Alterations Not Specific For Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimers disease (AD) has lately been suggested to be a systemic disorder, not confined only to the brain. An increasing volume of evidence indicates that AD is also associated with peripheral vascular changes //that might be important markers in tests of given pathophysiological hypotheses. Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary, hypothesized that the...

Sperm stem cells could be an alternative to embryonic stem cells in future

Stem cells are one of the fascinating areas of biology today, with new experiments continually replacing our existing knowledge about the potential applications of stem cells. Scientists have now been successful in manipulating rat // sperm cells to behave like embryonic stem cells, which are capable of giving rise to various cell lineages such as a nerve cell, blood cell or a skin cel...

Asian Alternative Treatments For Cancer On The Rise In Europe

Yoga, Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Chinese movement therapies such as Tai Chi, Detox diets and nutritional counseling are just some of the commonly used alternative treatments many cancer patients are opting for all over Europe. //Perhaps, this is because it’s strongly perceived that patients respond better to the conventional medical treatment for cancer with the combination of some of these a...

Tooth Decay Bacteria Unaffected By Altered Biochemical Pathway

Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria responsible for causing tooth decay, are able to survive and multiply without an essential biochemical pathway that is considered// vital for the survival of normal cells. Researchers at the University of Florida have revealed that the tooth decay causing bacteria can carry out its destructive work without this pathway. "We were met with skepticism … b...

Mainstream medicine collides with alternate treatment: increasing health risks

In an Australian study it has been revealed that every fourth Australian is hiding the fact // of alternate treatment from there doctors and risking their health. The alternate forms of treatment have become so popular that half the population practices it! A study of more than 3000 South Australians to provide a snapshot of alternative medicine use was conducted led by Uni...

San Francisco Mayor Proposes An Alternate Plan For The Uninsured City Residents

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said that he has a plan that will enable the uninsured in the city to have access to health care facility. // The taxpayers, employers and the recipients of the insurance coverage, will cover this insurance. His plan has the potential to benefit tens of thousands of city residents. Supervisor Tom Ammiano who is a member of the health care legislation sai...

Continual Fear Linked to Genetic Alterations in the Brain

A bully seems to have an unabating negative influence on the victim. Scientists have observed this unnerving effect of big mice on small ones, // and the findings have revealed that stress can cause certain genetic changes in the brain. This finding can go a long way in supporting the research into depression and mental illness. This finding initiated by the Texas Researchers, which h...

Statins For Erectile Dysfunction- An Alternative To Viagra?

Men with erectile dysfunction, who do not show improvement with Viagra could now benefit from statin therapy. The preliminary results of a study highlight the use of statins for management of endothelial dysfunction // in patients suffering from erectile dysfunction. The result of this small, yet promising study conducted by University of Pennsylvania researchers is published in the Jou...

Will Baby Jabs Play Truant? NHS Says “No”, Alternate Systems in Plae

Health chiefs have said “negative” to allegations that a perceived problem with the computer system managed by a private set up, will upset the immunization// schedule of thousands of babies and young children. This system was initiated as part of the Health IT initiative by the Government, to track the immunization schedule of babies and children. Subsequent to the problem, it is estim...

Gene alteration observed in children turning into adults

When children turn into adults, some genes involved in controlling their blood pressure change as well. This is as per a study of more than 500 pairs of twins. //Black and white identical and fraternal twins was done and it showed that changes in gene expression between ages 14 and 18 accounted for up to one third of the blood pressure variation that occurred by age 18. This was told by D...

Ape Humans? Alterations in Proteins Affects Genes.

Did you know that the genetic code of chimpanzees is so much alike the code of humans, almost a 98% similarity, and perhaps that explains why they ‘ape’ us. And yet, // there are glaring differences, despite the 98% similarity, that make us humans. According to scientists, it was not a different set of genes that caused the difference, but a difference in the manner the genes were utilize...

Good Diet Can Be An Alternate To Drugs In Lowering Cholesterol

Scientists in Canada has said that choosing and eating the right kind of food can be an alternate to drug therapy in lowering the cholesterol level//. David Jenkins and other researchers at the University of Toronto studied people who ate a diet high in viscous fibres, soy protein, almonds and plant sterol margarine -- all thought to help lower cholesterol, reported the health portal H...

US Thinks About The Alternative Methods To Combat Bird Flu

Bird flu and the spread of it as a pandemic illness have created concerns among the US health authorities. Hence to prevent close contact among people// and thereby facilitating the spread of the disease they have announced the closure of the schools, cancellation of big gatherings such as sports events and concerts. But the US research team has said that these measures are of no use to...

Alternate ways to produce HAS from tobacco plants

Ms Alicia Fernández San Millán’s, an agricultural engineer has developed a technique which uses plastidial transformation which results in the production// of Human serum albumin (HSA) from tobacco plants. HSA is an intravenous protein most commonly used in the world for therapeutic needs. It is mainly used to stabilize blood volume and to avoid risk of heart attacks. It is used for hae...

Vioxx and Celebrex, now have alternatives

Kingston: Researchers at Queen's University and the University of Pennsylvania have been able to zero in on a possible reason for drugs like Celebrex and Vioxx, administered for treatment// of pain and swelling that carry a potential risk of triggering a heart problem Co-author Colin Funk, a professor of Biochemistry and Physiology at Queen's, and Canada Research Chair in Molecular, Ce...

Alternative to the Conventional Seizure Treatment

Researchers at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angels and Valencia, Calif.-based Advanced Bionics Corp., trigeminal nerve// stimulation (TNS) have developed an alternative to the conventional epilepsy treatment. It is a nerve-stimulation treatment where in the study and the clinical trails show that it has the potential to control seizures. I this trea...