Stop Using Blood Tests For TB Say WHO

Using blood tests to diagnose active tuberculosis (TB) often leads to misdiagnosis, say the World Health Organization (WHO), who urge all countries to stop using the tests and rely instead on accurate WHO-recommended microbiological or molecular tests.

This is the first time the global health agency has issued a "negative" policy recommendation relating to TB, something they say "underscores the Organization's determination" to advise governments when there is strong evidence that widespread practice is doing more harm than good.The WHO's new policy recommendation, released from its headquarters in Geneva on Wednesday, states that the currently available commercial blood (serological) tests are unreliable and inaccurate. This is because they look for antibodies or antigens in the blood, which is a notoriously difficult thing to do. Sometimes these blood tests don't find antibodies in patients who have active TB and return a negative result, and sometimes they find antibodies to other diseases that are mistaken for TB antibodies and return a positive result. Using blood tests to test for active TB is "bad practice" that leads to misdiagnosis, mistreatment and potential harm to public health, say the WHO.Dr Mario Raviglione, Director of the Stop TB Department at the WHO, said:"In the best interests of patients and caregivers in the private and public health sectors, WHO is calling for an end to the use of these serological tests to diagnose tuberculosis.""A blood test for diagnosing active TB disease is bad practice. Test results are inconsistent, imprecise and put patients' lives in danger," he added.The agency pointed out that the new policy recommendation only applies to blood tests for active TB. They are in the process of reviewing the blood tests for inactive TB, which is also referred to as dormant or latent TB.The new policy recommendation follows 12 months of analysis of evidence by the WHO and global experts on TB, who evaluated 94 studies, including 67 for pulmonary TB. The "overwhelming" evidence from these studies showed that the blood tests return an unacceptable level of either false positives or false negatives, compared to tests recommended by the WHO.For example, many of the studies found that the commercial blood tests had "low sensitivity" and returned negative results when they should have been positive. This means patients who think they are in the clear don't get treated and there is a greater risk they will pass on the disease, or even die from untreated TB.The evidence also showed that the commercial blood tests have "low specificity", which means too many patients receive a positive result, indicating they have active TB, when they do not. This results in them being treated for an illness they don't have, and perhaps more alarmingly, not being diagnosed or treated for an illness they do have, which could be serious and even fatal.And it's not as though these tests are cheap: many patients pay as much as 30 US dollars per test, of which there are 18 different brands, mostly made in Europe and the US, not approved by any regulatory body, and sold in a global market where more than a million are carried out every year to test for active TB.As Dr Karin Weyer, WHO Stop TB Department's Coordinator of TB Diagnostics and Laboratory Strengthening, explained:"Blood tests for TB are often targeted at countries with weak regulatory mechanisms for diagnostics, where questionable marketing incentives can override the welfare of patients.""It's a multi-million dollar business centred on selling substandard tests with unreliable results," she added.Every year, 1.7 million people die of TB. It is the number one killer of people withHIV. Improving the diagnosis of TB is a priority for the WHO and the community that is fighting TB worldwide. Researchers are currently working on ways to make better, faster, more accurate tests that are easier to administer, said the WHO.Source: WHO.

Falls, Eye Tests May Hint at Early Alzheimer's

PARIS (Reuters) - People at risk for Alzheimer's are twice as likely to fall as healthy people, and the disease might also be visible in scans of the eye, researchers said on Sunday.

The preliminary results, presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Paris, are part of a widespread search for ways to detect Alzheimer's before memory problems begin, when drugs and treatments might have a better chance of making a difference.

"I don't think we can wait until people develop Alzheimer's disease or mild Alzheimer's. I think we need to act before that," Dr. William Klunk of the Alzheimer Disease Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said at the conference.

Brain scans and spinal fluid tests are used by researchers to detect Alzheimer's-related changes, but they are expensive and impractical for widespread screening, and none of them have been approved for routine use.

So teams are looking for other early changes that offer evidence the disease is developing before symptoms occur.Susan Stark of Washington University in St. Louis looked to see whether frequent falls may be an early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease.Her team studied 125 people who had brain scans and contributed samples of their spinal fluid. Each study participant kept a journal of how many times they fell over an eight-month period.The researchers found that people whose brain scans detected pre-symptomatic Alzheimer's disease were twice as likely to fall as those who had normal scans.

"This is really the first study that tests for falls in the preclinical phases of Alzheimer's disease," Stark said."It suggests that higher rates of falls can occur very early in the disease process."

In a separate study, Shaun Frost, a researcher from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia's national science agency, looked to see whether changes in the retina at the back of the eye—which is closely related to the brain—could be used to detect early Alzheimer's disease."It is much easier for us to image the retina than it is for us to do a brain scan," Frost told the meeting.

Frost's team found the width of certain blood vessels were significantly different in people with early signs of Alzheimer's disease compared with healthy people.People in the small study who had abnormal blood vessels in their eye also had plaque deposits of an Alzheimer's-related protein known as beta amyloid on positron emission tomography, or PET brain scans.

"These findings are indicating a relationship between changes in the retina and the plaque burden in the brain," Frost said.He said the study suggested it might be possible to use retina tests along with other biomarker tests to detect Alzheimer's early.The study needs to be confirmed by larger studies, but it shows one of the ways in which researchers are trying to find ways of diagnosing Alzheimer's early.Even though there are no treatments that can halt or delay the disease, scientists say knowing how to diagnose Alzheimer's before symptoms occur will be important when new drugs become available.

What is Osteopathy?

Many forms of natural medicine have been floating around in the ears of the public lately, like Ayurvedic practices, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Herbalism, and Chiropractics, but one form has yet to pop up as a popular topic of conversation: Osteopathy.

Osteopathy is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that focuses on the patient and emphasizes the role of the musculoskeletal system—the bones, muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and joints that provide the movement, support, and stability for the human body—for staying healthy.

This alternative healthcare modality offers a holistic approach to medicine by relying on the body’s own restorative powers through manipulation of the muscular structure. Like a general practitioner in Western medicine, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO’s) are fully licensed physicians and can also be surgeons, depending on their amount of education.

Founded by Civil War surgeon, Dr. Andrew Still, who thought the best way to fight disease was to stimulate the immune system through natural causes. Late in the 1800s, Dr. Still abandoned his Western medical roots and rallied against popular techniques at the time like using leeches for blood removal.

Though unpopular at the time and turned against by colleagues in his profession, Dr. Still pressed on and developed a new form of science using the body’s tissues and fluids as manipulation tools. Dr. Still’s new science ideas were turned into the division of natural health called Osteopathy that is still very much alive today.

Dr. Still’s techniques were strengthened by the ability to find the natural rhythms of a person’s spinal cord which keeps breathing at a normal pace and stimulates the connective tissues all over the body that control the movement and tension of muscles and a person’s limbs in order to ensure comfortable and needed flexibility.

Most of the ailments treated by osteopathy are physical, as they have to deal with tension or pain within the musculoskeletal structure.The thoughts behind this branch of natural medicine, along with most of the sections of CAM, deal with the conjunction of treating both the body and the mind, treating the body through the mind or vice versa. DO’s and CAM doctors often feel that the mind and body both work together equally to solve a problem within the body.

From babies to grandparents, osteopathy has worked for a range of symptoms. Infants with a tendency for colic, trouble with digestion, spitting up, learning disorders, and cerebral palsy have been helped by osteopathic treatments.From serious pain issues to smaller uncomfortable pains, everything from neck and back problems, joint pain, sciatica, headaches, asthma, and allergy symptoms can be relieved through osteopathy, as well as neurological problems like seizures, sinusitis, and even digestive track conditions.Expectation of a quick fix may disappoint.

This is not Western medicine, with its pills, shots and conventional treatments. With osteopathy challenging the body to control itself and allowing healing to be started from the inside out, might take awhile depending on your body. Your immune system would have to be re-taught and pumped up in order for drastic changes to take place.

In terms of a timeline, there is no direct answer but acute problems will have an easier time leaving than a chronic condition that has been living in the body longer.Popular former United States presidents and important political figures FDR, Eisenhower, and JFK all relied on osteopathic services for their health needs, among many other famous figures then and now.

While breaking the cycle of relying on doctors to heal us instead of listening to our bodies takes time, at least we are not solely looking to leeches for help. To find a DO in your area,look to The CranialAcademy to help your body heal itself through mental and physical osteopathic techniques.

Great Workouts in an Hour (or Less!)

As a fitness professional, I’m frequently asked questions about how to create the “best” workout. It seems that we’re constantly bombarded with conflicting information on how to achieve the body of our dreams. Is cardio the best way to blast fat, or is greater lean body mass through strength training the key? How much time should we be devoting to exercise to see and feel a difference? Should we stick with a routine, or try new and different things?

The answer is quite simple. A great workout combines cardio, strength training, and core work, keeps you moving at all times, and can be done in less than an hour. The key is to keep moving. When you’re fatigued from one set of exercises, quickly move on to the next. This is an active recovery technique that helps burn more calories, and it can be implemented in a variety of ways. If you’re in the gym, aim for a circuit of 3-4 strength training exercises in 5-10 minutes, then move on to core work for 2-3 minutes, then switch to cardio for 5-10 minutes. If you’re exercising outdoors, try to push yourself more during shorter cardio segments. When you need a break, try to do squats, lunges, push-ups and tricep dips until you’re ready to resume your cardio.

If you’re feeling out of breath, slow down and focus more on core work. If your arms are really tired, try some cardio to give your upper body a break. The more variety you can bring to the workout, the better. Listen to your body and take breaks when you need them, and stop if you feel faint, sick, or dizzy.

A dynamic workout that incorporates lots of different movements is the best way to fight both mental and physical boredom and fatigue, and you’ll find that switching up your routine actually challenges you more. You’ll be more likely to push through plateaus and work harder if you commit to short bursts of more challenging exercises. Instead of running on the treadmill for long periods of time, try to break your cardio up into 3-5 minute bursts. You’ll be more likely to push yourself if you know you’ll be moving on to something new in a few short minutes.

Two useful tools to help you monitor the quality of your workout are a heart rate monitor and your own rate of perceived exertion. A heart rate monitor tracks how many calories you burn during your workout, so you can actually see the effects of the exercises you’re doing, and increase your efforts as needed. It’s a great way to see just how well a circuit training workout can be. By asking yourself how challenged you are, on a scale of 1-10, you can keep yourself honest about how you’re feeling. Begin by rating yourself during your current workout routine. Check in with yourself frequently on a scale of 1-10 and track the calories expended with your monitor. Aim to increase your own personal number by 1-2 levels, and try to increase the calories burned each time. Proceed slowly, and be mindful of how you feel 24-48 hours post-workout. If you feel reasonably sore, you’re on the right track. If you can barely move, you’ve probably pushed it a bit too far and should scale back, and if you don’t feel anything, try to push it a bit more during your next session.

As far as total time devoted to your workouts, try to set reasonable expectations. Each week, take a look at your calendar, reserve time in your schedule for exercise, and make it a priority. Fifty-five minutes is ideal and should include strength training moves to work your upper and lower body, lots of mat work for the core, and intense, challenging cardio bursts. If you only have 30 minutes, make it a challenging, fast-paced workout rather than skipping it because it’s not “enough.” Some exercise is always better than none at all, and you’re worth it!

Lisa Corsello is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, nutrition consultant and group fitness instructor who works with clients to create customized, goal-oriented exercise and nutrition plans. She works with a wide range of clients, from absolute beginners needing basic knowledge, enthusiasts who want to increase lean body mass and reduce body fat, people recovering from sports injuries or serious illness, and professional athletes in training.

New Vaccine Approved for Upcoming Flu Season

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced approval of the influenza vaccine formulation for the 2011-2012 flu season. The vaccine formulation protects against the three virus strains that surveillance indicates will be most common during the upcoming season and includes the same virus strains used in 2010-2011 (influenza A H3N2 virus, influenza B virus, and the 2009 H1N1 virus.).

Six manufacturers have been licensed to provide the vaccine throughout the United States: CSL Limited, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, BiomedicalCorporation, MedImmune Vaccines Inc., Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited, and Sanofi Pasteur Inc. (Sanofi Pastuer Inc. will also be producing and distributinga transdermal version of the vaccine that will be available for 18 to 64 year olds, approved separately on May 9, 2011.) Production of the vaccine will get underway shortly and be ready in time for the fall/winter flu season.

Vaccination remains the cornerstone of preventing influenza,a contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza virus strains. According to the FDA press release, between 5 percent and 20 percent of the U.S. population develops influenza each year, leading to more than 200,000 hospitalizations from related complications. Influenza-related deaths vary yearly, ranging from a low of about 3,000 to a high of 49,000 people.

The Centers for Disease Control consider the annual flu a “serious and contagious disease.” It can lead to hospitalization and death, and while they do not expect a repeat performance of the 2009 pandemic, the flu is unpredictable and it is wise to take precautions to avoid the contagion.The CDC urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from influenza:
Vaccination : Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against the flu. Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead.

Prevention : Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or the crook of your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.

Follow-Through : Get a prescription for and take the whole dosage of antiviral medication. Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and prevent serious flu complications.

5 Nutrition and Weight Loss Misconceptions

With all of the diet and weight loss information out there, it’s hard to know what will work for us. It seems that there is a always a new and better way to lose weight and keep it off. What really works, and why? Here are the most common misconceptions about diet, nutrition and weight loss.

1. Carbs are bad

Contrary to popular belief, carbs are essential to a balanced and healthy diet and maintaining energy levels. Simple carbs, those that are high in refined sugar (soda, candy, etc.), are bad for us. Eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables is actually really important to overall health, fitness and improving the way you look and feel.

2. Non-fat is better than low-fat

Many non-fat products are full of refined sugar and salt to make them taste better. Small amounts of fat are actually really important. Fat helps us feel fuller longer, making us less likely to overeat.
3. I can eat anything I want if I work out.

Remember that losing weight means burning more calories than are consumed. Working out is a great way to burn calories during and even after the workout. However, most of us tend to overestimate how many calories we burn during our workouts. We also underestimate how many calories are in the food we eat. If you’re burning 350 calories during your workout and downing a cheeseburger, fries and a coke afterwards, you might actually gain weight! Try a heart rate monitor to get a good idea of how many calories you’re burning, and check online to see how many calories are in your favorite foods

.4. If I’m good all week, I can “splurge” on the weekend

While it might feel really great to eat healthy foods and work out all week, try not to overdo it when you let loose. A few days of taking in too many calories leads to weight gain, regardless of how good you’ve been all week. Try to enjoy yourself in moderation throughout the week so you’re less likely to go overboard.

5. Eating less will help “shrink my stomach”

Going for long periods of time without food slows metabolism, confuses the body, and usually leads to eventual overeating. The body needs good, healthy food on a consistent basis to burn calories efficiently. Eating regularly can actually help weight loss.

Lisa Corsello is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, nutrition consultant and group fitness instructor who works with clients to create customized, goal-oriented exercise and nutrition plans. She works with a wide range of clients, from absolute beginners needing basic knowledge, enthusiasts who want to increase lean body mass and reduce body fat, people recovering from sports injuries or serious illness, and professional athletes in training.

The Bigger the Fork, the Smaller the Waistline

Although the preconceived notion is to think in terms of reduced food portions on small plates when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, sometimes bigger really is better, especially when it comes to the of fork you choose to eat with.According to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, people who used an oversized fork to take bigger bites when eating out actually ate less than those who consumed their meal using a fork that was smaller than normal.

The findings of the analysis were recently published in the online edition of the Journal of ConsumerResearch.For the research team to arrive at their findings, it was a case of “buon appetito” and we’ll do the rest, with the help of a local Italian restaurant. Over a two-day period, during which two lunches and two dinners were served as part of the analysis, the researchers selected tables at random to receive either forks that were 20 percent larger than those normally used by the restaurant, or forks that were 20 percent smaller than were normally used.

Each plate of food served was weighed both prior to being carried to the table, and upon its return to the kitchen, which allowed the amount of food eaten by each person to be calculated. The surprising results revealed that those patrons who were given larger forks ate less overall, leaving more food on their plates by the end of their meal than did those using the smaller forks. This left University of Utah researchers Arul Mishra, Himanshu Mishra, and Tamara M. Masters with the task of explaining why those who received bigger bites of food actually consumed less than did those who ate smaller bites.Their conclusions?

First, the diners are visually aware of whether they are making progress in diminishing the amount of food seen on their plates in their effort to achieve satiation of their hunger. The use of a smaller fork gives the appearance that less progress has been made in achieving their goal, while the use of a larger fork provides for the appearance of a more adequate amount of food having been consumed from the plate.In addition, those who eat with smaller forks feel the need to further their efforts in achieving hunger satisfaction by eating more forkfuls of food, which results in their actual consumption of more than an adequate amount of food.

After reaching their conclusions, the research team tested them by varying the portions of food served to the restaurant patrons. They discovered that among diners who were served larger portions, those using smaller forks ate significantly more than those using larger forks. However, when served smaller portions, the of the fork used by the diners had no affect the amount of food they consumed.The study authors acknowledged that their findings only hold true for people who are eating out.

The results are not necessarily applicable to people eating at home because their goals for satisfying hunger may differ from those of restaurant patrons.The researchers also advised that to avoid overeating, people need to learn how to better recognize and understand their own personal hunger cues, and determine how much food they actually need to eat. Then, use your best judgment and buon appetito!

Recreational Drugs Sold As Bath Salts Causing Serious Public Health Concern, USA

Hospitals throughout the USA are having to cope with a growing number of people coming in high on bath salts, which can be used as recreational drugs. These substances can be smoked, injected or snorted and may have dangerous long-term harmful effects. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), American poison centers have receives 2,237 calls related to toxic substances that are marketed as "bath salts" this year so far, compared to 302 calls in 2010. The AAPCC says the problem is expected to continue to grow. It adds that the toxic products can cause accelerated heart rate, hallucinations, agitation, hypertension (raised blood pressure), delusions and extreme paranoia.

Emergency department staff say that people who come in under the influence of these substances are usually high and violent and need to be hospitalized overnight. In some cases they require psychiatric help because they are so disconnected from reality.

Louisiana Poison Center director, Mark Ryan, says the products are the worst he has seen during his two decades at the poison center.

Ryan said: "These products create a very severe paranoia that we believe could cause users to harm themselves or others." The products are sold through various outlets, including head shops, gas stations and online. They are sold under several names, including: BloomBlue SilkCloud NineHurricane CharlieIvory WaveLunar WaveOcean SnowRed DoveScarfaceVanilla SkyWhite LightningZoom Ryan said experts have observed that these substances trigger intense craving, similar to those found among methamphetamine users.

AAPCC scientists believe the "bath salts" contain MDPV (Methylenedioxypyrovalerone). MDPV is not approved in the USA for medical use.

Reports have also come in of insect repellants and plant fertilizers containing MDPV being marketed. Even though the products, which usually come in powdered form and have "not for human consumption" written on their packaging, the majority of emergency center cases are of people who have snorted it. There is one reported case of a male who injected himself.

28 US states, mainly in the South and Midwest, as well as New York, New Jersey, and Maine have banned bath salts. An outbreak of bath salt usage as a recreational drug resulted in a ban in the United Kingdom. Anecdotal cases of people high on bath salts in US media include a man who climbed a flagpole and then jumped into moving traffic. In another case, a woman scratched herself to death. One man went into a monastery and killed a priest with a knife.

Binge Drinking Damages Teenage Girls' Brains More Than Boys'

Teenage girls who binge-drink have a higher risk of long-term harm to the brain compared to boys of the same age who also binge drink, researchers from the University of California, San Diego and Stanford University reported in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Their definition of binge-drinking is consuming at least four (for females) or five (for males) alcoholic drinks at one sitting.

The investigators said that activity levels in several regions of the brain among girls who binge drink were lower than what one would normally find among typical teenagers.

Co-author, Susan Tapert, from Stanford University, said:

"These differences in brain activity were linked to worse performance on other measures of attention and working memory ability."

Although changes in brain activity levels were observed among teenage boys who binge drink, they were less severe than what was observed in the girls.

The authors warned that teenage girls are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol abuse.

There could be many reasons why the girls' brains are more affected, including: A girl's brain tends to develop a couple of years earlier than a boy's. A girl has a slower metabolic rate than a boyThere is usually a higher body-fat ratio in a girl than a boyGirls generally weigh less than boysBoys and girls have hormonal differences The authors added that what they found among teenage male and females was similar to studies on adults who abuse alcohol - women tend to be more vulnerable to its harmful effects on the brain.

Of the 95 teenagers who participated in this study, 40 said they had taken part in sessions of binge drinking.

The researchers asked them how often they had consumed an alcoholic drink during their lifetime, and also what their alcohol consumption had been during the three months before the study began.

The boys and girls were asked to carry out tasks which activated brain parts responsible for spatial working memory, while at the same time being scanned with an MRI (medical resonance imaging) device.

Impaired spacial memory can lead to several problems in daily living, including driving a vehicle, using a map, remembering how to get somewhere, taking part in certain sports, and figural reasoning.

The researchers stressed that none of their 95 participants was alcoholic or had a drink problem. Any binge-drinking session was done socially, and subsequent drinking of alcohol did not occur again for several weeks.

However, Edith Sullivan, from Stanford University School of Medicine, said that the harmful effects of drinking too much persisted for a long time after the event.

Sullivan said:

"Long after a young person - middle school to college - enjoys recovery from a hang-over, this study shows that risk to cognitive and brain functions endures."

According to the authors, nearly 30% of all teenagers in America in their last year of school reported binge drinking during the previous four weeks. Data from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) shows that approximately 75% of alcohol consumed in the USA (all ages) is done so during binge-drinking sessions.