A new survey from the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society (GUAES) finds many Americans with gout may be placing too much emphasis on diet when it comes to managing the disease and controlling painful flares. Of all the steps taken to manage gout, respondents cited changing their diet by eliminating or reducing consumption of certain foods as their top step taken (50 percent)—even ahead of taking medications to lower their uric acid levels (40 percent) and maintaining an overall healthy fitness level (33 percent). Furthermore, nearly one in three with gout incorrectly believes that the disease can be completely avoided by eliminating certain foods; and more than one in four said they would not take medications if they were making dietary changes.
“Physicians all too often see patients who believe they can successfully manage their gout with diet alone,” said N. Lawrence Edwards, M.D., a rheumatologist and GUAES chairman. “But even with extremely rigid diet restrictions, most gout patients will only be able to lower their uric acid levels slightly—not nearly enough to achieve a healthy level to control flares and reduce risk for long-term damage.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7835451-guaes-diet-survey/
CVS Health (NYSE:CVS), the nation’s largest pharmacy innovation company, today announced Be The First, a five-year $50 million initiative to help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation. Through this initiative, which is funded through CVS Health and the CVS Health Foundation, the company is extending its commitment to help people lead tobacco-free lives. Recognizing that tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States and that youth use of some tobacco products is on the rise, Be The First comprises comprehensive education, advocacy, tobacco control and healthy behavior programming in partnership with organizations uniquely positioned to tackle this public health challenge.
“We are at a critical moment in our nation’s efforts to end the epidemic of tobacco use that continues to kill more people than any other preventable cause of death, and threatens the health and well-being of our next generation,” said Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., and Chief Medical Officer for CVS Health. “Ensuring our youth stay tobacco-free requires increased education and awareness of healthy behaviors. We’re partnering with experts across the public health community who have established best practices to help prevent tobacco use. And, by establishing more public-private partnerships to implement these strategies more aggressively, we can help increase the number of people leading tobacco-free lives and move us one step closer to delivering the first tobacco-free generation.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7775151-cvs-health-be-the-first/
More than 15 percent of reproductive-aged women have filled a prescription for an antidepressant medication during the years 2008–2013, according to a new analysis published today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month and the CDC is working with the March of Dimes to raise awareness about the use of antidepressant medications by women of reproductive age, and what women should know and do for their own health and that of their babies. There is conflicting evidence about the potential link between some antidepressants and certain birth defects. Some commonly used antidepressants are sertraline (Zoloft), bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), and citalopram (Celexa).
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7709851-march-of-dimes-antidepressant-pregnancy-study/
Following FDA approval of the AspireSR® generator for the VNS Therapy® system in June 2015, more than a thousand patients with drug-resistant epilepsy across the United States have received this new treatment option. Many of these patients are experiencing benefits which have positively impacted their lives – and are sharing their stories during Epilepsy Awareness Month with the hope of encouraging others to seek new treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy. Numerous hospitals nationwide have begun providing the AspireSR device to patients with drug-resistant epilepsy – a condition that affects as many as one-third of people with epilepsy, causing them to have seizures in spite of treatment with antiepileptic medications.
The VNS Therapy system is a minimally invasive option in which a medical device is placed under the skin in the upper chest area during an outpatient procedure. The device sends mild electrical pulses through the vagus nerve to areas of the brain known to be associated with seizures. The new AspireSR generator takes the VNS Therapy technology a step further – detecting relative heart-rate increases that are often associated with seizures in people with epilepsy and providing responsive stimulation in an attempt to stop and shorten seizures and improve recovery.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7651751-livanova-aspiresr-treatment/
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST) and HealthPrize Technologies, LLC, today announced the completion of the first two phases of their four-phase strategic collaboration. The companies are working to integrate HealthPrize’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) medication adherence and patient-engagement platform with West’s injectable drug delivery systems to provide an end-to-end connected health solution for pharmaceutical companies and the patients they serve. The combined offering will provide voluntary, electronically connected drug delivery systems that track when patients take their medication. The HealthPrize system engages and educates patients to increase adherence and medical literacy, rewarding interaction and compliance with prescribed treatment plans, and contributing to better health outcomes.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7625851-west-pharma-healthprize-tech-collaboration/
The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity today released a new report “Energy Cost Impacts on Families” that details the plight of American households who are significantly harmed by rising energy costs.
The study finds that on average nearly half of America’s households are bringing home $1,900 a month, less than $23,000 annually, and spending 17 percent of those hard-earned dollars on energy. Low and fixed income families, including minorities and senior citizens, are among the most vulnerable to energy price increases and frequently must make tough choices about what to do to meet energy costs.
“No one should go without food or medication to keep the lights on but that’s exactly what is taking place in millions of households across America,” said Mike Duncan, president and CEO of ACCCE. “Regulations like EPA’s calamitous Clean Power Plan will only exacerbate the economic struggles families face, making it all that much harder to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. This administration should put Americans ahead of its politically charged agenda and immediately take action to ensure vulnerable families are not harmed further by these reckless regulations.”
To view the Multimedia News Release, go http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7552751-accce-family-energy-impact-report/
A recent survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the newly-formed Coalition to Prevent Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Medication Misuse (CPAMM) finds that college students’ perceptions and attitudes towards the misuse, abuse and diversion of ADHD prescription stimulants are complex. The findings paint a portrait of students who recognize the risks of misuse, but understand why some students may choose to misuse, given the academic pressures in today’s college environment. CPAMM intends to use the findings to inform and develop educational campaigns to help prevent nonmedical use of ADHD prescription stimulants. The survey was conducted online between May 15 and June 11, 2014 among 2,056 US college students (full-time, 91%, part-time, 9%), defined as adults aged 18 to 24 enrolled and seeking a degree at a 4-year college or university and attending at least some in-person classes.1
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7373051-cpamm-survey-reveals-college-students-adhd-prescription-stimulant-abuse-misuse-and-diversion/
Eight out of 10 people will be affected by back pain at some point during their lives, making it the No. 1 cause of disability worldwide and resulting in as much as $200 billion in lost wages and productivity. Many sufferers struggle for years to find relief, but treatment options often only provide short-term relief or, in the case of pain medication, carry serious side effects, including drowsiness, liver damage and potential for addiction. Now, thanks to Hocoma, a leader in the development of robotic and sensor-based medical devices for functional movement therapy, consumers have a new way to improve and sustain low back health in the comfort of their own home.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7370551-hocoma-innovative-medical-device-therapeutic-gaming-technology-valedo-low-back-health/
Se pone en marcha el primer estudio integral a largo plazo que compara diferentes medicaciones para el tratamiento de la diabetes tipo 2 a escala nacional. El estudio GRADE (Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness - Estrategias para la reducción de la glucemia en la diabetes: una comparativa de la eficacia) comparará los efectos beneficiosos y riesgos a largo plazo de cuatro fármacos ampliamente utilizados en el tratamiento de la diabetes, en combinación con metformina, la medicación de primera línea más frecuente para tratar la diabetes tipo 2. El estudio GRADE está buscando voluntarios latinos.
Para ver el Multimedia News Release, vaya a http://www.multivu.com/mnr/65066-nih-grade-study-on-type-2-diabetes-medication-seeks-latino-volunteers
The first comprehensive long-term study comparing different medications for type 2 diabetes is launching nationwide. The GRADE (Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness) Study will compare the long-term benefits and risks of four widely used diabetes drugs in combination with metformin, the most common first-line medication for treating type 2 diabetes.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64578-grade-glycemia-reduction-approaches-in-diabetes-comparative-effectiveness
Janssen Healthcare Innovation, a team within Janssen Research & Development, LLC focusing on optimizing healthcare delivery, announced today the launch of Care4Today™ Mobile Health Manager 2.0 (mhm.care4today.com). This free mobile platform and website is designed to help people stay on schedule with their medications with special features such as Care4Family™ and Care4Charity™ to support and motivate users to take their medications regularly.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/62572-janssen-healthcare-innovation-launches-care4today-mobile-health-manager
Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. (“Raptor” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: RPTP), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved PROCYSBI™ (cysteamine bitartrate) delayed release capsules for the treatment of nephropathic cystinosis in adults and children 6 years and older. In a Phase 3 study, PROCYSBI showed consistent cystine depletion over the full 12-hour dosing period. Sustained levels of cysteamine have not historically been achieved in the majority of patients in this population. Studies have shown that sustained cystine depletion in patients may significantly delay disease progression, including kidney dysfunction, dialysis, kidney transplant, organ failure and premature death.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/61338-raptor-pharmaceutical-procysbi-fda-approval-nephropathic-cystinosis
