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A published report out of Australia says that every hour viewers spend watching television increases the risk of premature death.  The study was undertaken by the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne.The report involving more than 8,000 adults in Australia over a six-year period revealed that those adults who watched television the most died younger.

Professor David Dunstan, who led the study, says the elevated risk of an early death was independent of other risk factors, including high blood pressure or cholesterol levels as well as diet, exercise and smoking. The research showed that too much sitting on the couch/sofa can be detrimental to our health.

"What this study provides is the first compelling evidence linking television viewing to an increased risk of early death," Dunstan said. "People who watch four or more hours of television a day have a 46 percent higher risk of death from all causes and an 80 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease."  There is a difference between not doing enough exercise and sitting down too much, which scientists  believe upsets the body's rhythms and regulatory processes, such as breaking down and using glucose.

So, you want to watch that 4 hour movie? Or you want to see those television shows that you taped or DVR'd while you were away? Watch them while walking/running on a treadmill or peddling a stationary bicycle. You'll live longer and feel better!


 

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In a study in the December issue of Diabetes Care, the number of  people with Diabetes is predicted to almost double to 44.1 million people by 2034. And, at the same time, the cost of treating people with Diabetes will triple to $336 million dollars!

Factors driving the increase in diabetes cases include the aging population and continued high rates of obesity, both of which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes, Additionally, more and more people will live with Diabetes for a longer period of time, thus increasing the length of treatment as well as the serious complications that Diabetes can cause. 

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A new European study has shown that obese people have large amounts of the chemokine molecule CXCL5, produced by certain cells in fatty tissue, and it is this molecule that  researchers feel will cause an obese person to develop Type II Diabetes.

'Chronic inflammation of the adipose tissue, which is characteristic of obese people, is a crucial stage in the development of insulin resistance and Type II Diabetes", Lluis Fajas, lead author of the study and a researcher at the Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) in France, said.

 Serum levels of CXCL5, produced by certain adipose tissue cells, appear at much high levels in the tissues of obese people than in those of individuals with normal weight. An experimental treatment aimed at inhibiting the action of CXCL5 has protected obese mice from developing Type II Diabetes. If this can be shown in humans, an important step to prevent diabetes in obese people will have been taken.

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A new  type of sensor that changes color with rising blood sugar levels is now being testing by scientists. About the size of the clicker on the end of a ballpoint pen, this high tech tattoo is made up of tiny nanospheres which contain a special kind of ink that reacts with glucose. Invented by Heather Clark, a biomedical engineer at Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the tattoo hasn’t yet been tested in humans but the early results in mice have been very promising.

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DrugWatch.com features a comprehensive list of drugs and medications that are currently on the market, or were previously available worldwide.

According to Sean McCahill, the National Awareness Coordinator for DrugWatch.com, the website is dedicated to educating the public about the details of prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as aiding in the protection of patients and consumers by informing them of any associated side effects. Also featured is updated information concerning drug recalls, medication approvals, and current developments in the medical field.

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Two weeks ago I upgraded my cellphone to an I-phone. Learning all of the different functions has been a slow process but I'm getting there and I'm loving it more every day. My son Andrew has been very helpful in this process and he has shown me how to download the"applications" that I would use everyday such as CNN, ESPN, etc.

What I didn't know was that there are applications for the I-Phone that would be valuable for pharmacists or anyone who would would like medication information available at their fingertips. Richard Hemby has posted a list of eleven top applications that are easily downloaded and very useful to pharmacists in their daily work. From the latest medication news to identifying medications to pharmacy calculations, I'm sure you'll be able to find an application that suits you.

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 Focus Express Mail Pharmacy is proud to announce a 24/7 Emergency Home Medical Alert System that gives your loved ones “help at the push of a button”. Check it out at www.FocusAlert.com

■ Reliable 24/7 Home Emergency Monitoring
UL Approved Central Monitoring Station.
Live help is available when needed most.

■ FREE Delivery
FedEx Ground Delivery ■ NO Activation or Hidden Fees

 ■ NO Long Term Contracts
To cancel service simply return the unit to us.

■ FREE Lifetime Parts Replacement Warranty

■ Easy 1-2-3 Setup
1. Plug in phone - 2. Plug in power - 3. Push button to activate.

■ Simple to Use System "Push The Button"

■ Affordable Fixed Rate - Less than $1 a Day! 

FREE Hardware

• 1. Medical Alert Base Unit With Battery Back Up, Power Supply and Phone Cord
  
• 1. Medical Alert Button (can be worn on the neck or wrist)

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A recent study has demonstrated that giving mice a combination of low doses of Metformin (brand name Gluophage)  with the common chemotherapy medication Doxorubicin (brand name Adriamycin) shrank breast-cancer tumors and prevented their recurrence more effectively than chemotherapy alone.

Chemotherapy is effective against many tumors, said Kevin Struhl, a Harvard Medical School researcher and principal investigator of the study. "The problem is cancer stem cells acquire resistance" to treatment, he said. "They are able to regenerate the tumor and as a result you end up with a relapse."

Researchers said the combination of metformin and doxorubicin killed both regular cancer cells and cancer stem cells. In contrast, doxorubicin alone had limited effect on the stem cells.

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A new drug  for both Type 1 and Type II diabetes,called Exsulin, is in the "pipeline" and could be sent to the FDA for approval in a few years.  Alexander Fleming, MD, former US Food and Drug Administration official and Exsulin Corp. Chief Medical Officer, said "the drug causes the cells in the pancreas to develop into insulin-secreting cells.This is actually a natural hormone we’re developing as a therapy.”  Exsulin will be injected like insulin, but it won't have any direct effect on blood sugar. 

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