GlaxoSmithKline fined $3 bn in US

"The headquarters Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) in west London. GlaxoSmithKline was socked with $3 billion in fines by US authorities over charges it marketed drugs for unauthorized uses, held back safety data, and cheated the government's Medicaid program. (AFP Photo/Odd Andersen)" title

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Botox May Ease Tremors in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

HealthDay – 8 mins ago MONDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) -- The drug Botox, best known for paralyzing muscles in the forehead to reduce wrinkles, can also relieve shaking in the limbs of patients with multiple sclerosis, a small new study suggests.

The treatment, which requires several times the amount of Botox (botulinum toxin type A) used for wrinkles, could be expensive and it's not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this use. However, multiple sclerosis (MS) patients can still legally get the treatment in the United States.

"Most patients tolerate the injections very well and are keen to continue the treatment once they see the benefits they get from it," said Dr. Anneke van der Walt, lead study author and a neurologist and research fellow at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, in Australia.

The shaking, known as a tremor, can affect one or both arms, or less commonly the legs, in MS patients. "The shaking affects them when they're just trying to hold the arms up or do common daily tasks such as eating and drinking, shaving and, particularly, writing," van der Walt said. "As with many MS symptoms, the tremor can be worse on very hot days and worse when the person is tired."

Physicians may turn to medications to treat the tremors, but the drugs often have little effect, van der Walt said. Brain surgery to implant electrodes is another option to relieve the tremors, but the benefits may not last long.

In the new study, researchers randomly gave Botox or an inactive placebo by injection to 23 MS patients with tremors in their arms. Twelve weeks later, they reversed the injections so each arm ultimately received both Botox and placebo.

The investigators assessed tremor severity and a variety of motor skills before and after treatment.

According to the study, published in the July 3 issue of the journal Neurology, after Botox injection, the patients had "significant" improvement in tremors as well as in drawing and writing ability, as rated on a 10-point scale.

One side effect, weakness in the limb, was very common in the patients who received Botox -- 42 percent reported it, compared with 6 percent among those who received the placebo. However, the weakness was mild to moderate in the patients and went away within two weeks.

It's not clear how the drug relieves tremors, but it may have something to do with changing the way muscles, nerves and the brain interact, van der Walt said.

The patients received an average of 83 international units of Botox, about three to four times the amount used for wrinkles, although less than the typical amount that migraine patients get. The injections are needed from two to four times a year and cost the equivalent of about $500 to $1,000 in Australia, van der Walt said.

She recommended that "patients who are interested in exploring Botox treatment for their tremor

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No Health Risk When Jehovah's Witnesses Refuse Blood: Study

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Dangerous Rage May Be Common Among U.S. Teens

HealthDay – 8 mins ago MONDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) -- Almost two-thirds of U.S. teens have had an anger attack so severe they have destroyed property, or threatened or attacked another person, a new study finds.

When these attacks persist, the syndrome can be considered intermittent explosive disorder. One in 12 U.S. teens may have the condition, which usually surfaces in late childhood, the researchers say.

"This is one of the most common adolescent disorders in America, and the most important ignored disorder among youth in America," said lead researcher Ronald Kessler, a professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

"For reasons that are unclear to me,

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More Than 1 in 4 Teens Have 'Sexted': Study

" -- sent a naked photo of themselves through email or cell-phone texting. And more than half said they'd been asked to send someone else a naked photo.","exp":"","source":"y.news","art_imgurl":"http:

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Medicare Coverage Gap May Cause Seniors to Forgo Antidepressants

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Kids Born Even a Little Early Have Lower School Scores: Study

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Health Tip: Signs of a Herniated Disk

HealthDay – 8 mins ago (HealthDay News) -- Disks in the spinal column are soft, rubbery pads wedged between the bones of the spine. They help the spine bend and flex.

When a disk ruptures (herniates), the contents can press against or irritate nearby nerves, causing pain and discomfort. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says symptoms of a herniated disk include:

Weakness that affects one leg or one arm.A numb or tingling sensation in one arm, one leg or one side of the buttocks.In less frequent cases, loss of bowel or bladder control.A burning pain in the neck, an arm or a shoulder.

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Spanking Batters Kids' Mental Health: Study

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'Virtual' Colonoscopy Safe, Effective for Medicare Patients: Study

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Health Tip: Preventing Headaches

HealthDay – 7 mins ago (HealthDay News) -- The intense, throbbing pain of a migraine isn't always avoidable, but there are things you can do to help minimize your risk.

The Womenshealth.gov website says these practices may help reduce your chances of getting a migraine:

Eat a balanced diet with plenty of healthy foods.Lead a physically active lifestyle, making sure to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day.Practice relaxation exercises to help reduce stress.Get plenty of sleep.Minimize things that cause stress in your life.

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Poor Sleep Affects Immune System Much Like Physical Stress

HealthDay – 7 mins ago MONDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) -- Severe sleep deprivation has the same effect on the immune system as physical stress, according to a new study.

Researchers in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom found sleep loss triggers the production of white blood cells, known as granulocytes, particularly at night.

"The granulocytes reacted immediately to the physical stress of sleep loss and directly mirrored the body's stress response," explained the study's lead author, Katrin Ackermann, a postdoctoral researcher at the Eramus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam in the Netherlands, in a news release from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

In conducting the study, the researchers tracked the white blood cell count of 15 healthy young men who followed a strict schedule of eight hours of sleep every day for a week, then compared that with their white blood cell counts during 29 hours of sleep deprivation.

The investigators found that the white blood cells showed a loss of day-night rhythmicity and also increased during the sleep deprivation.

The research was published in the July issue of the journal Sleep.

Previous studies have shown sleep deprivation is linked to the development of diseases, including obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. Prior research has also suggested that chronic sleep loss is a risk factor for impairment of the immune system.

Looking ahead, the study authors concluded that future research should examine exactly how sleep loss contributes to the development of certain diseases.

"Future research will reveal the molecular mechanisms behind this immediate stress response and elucidate its role in the development of diseases associated with chronic sleep loss," said Ackermann in the news release. "If confirmed with more data, this will have implications for clinical practice and for professions associated with long-term sleep loss, such as rotating shift work."

More information

The American Psychological Association has more about the importance of sleep.

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