الأربعاء، 31 يوليو 2013
الأربعاء، 21 يوليو 2010
Vaccine patch may replace needles
A vaccine patch could cut out the need for painful needles and boost the effectiveness of immunisation against diseases like flu, say US researchers.
The patch has hundreds of microscopic needles which dissolve into the skin.
Tests in mice show the technology may even produce a better immune response than a conventional jab.
Writing in Nature Medicine, the team of researchers said the patch could one day enable people to vaccinate themselves.
Each patch, developed by researchers at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, contains 100 "microneedles" which are just 0.65mm in length.
They are designed to penetrate the outer layers of skin, dissolving on contact.
To test the technology, the researchers loaded the needles with an influenza vaccine.
One group of mice received the influenza vaccine using traditional hypodermic needles and another group were vaccinated with the patch.
Patches that had no vaccine on them were applied to a third group of mice.
Three months down the line the team found the patch appeared to produce a more effective immune response in mice, then infected with the flu virus, than a standard vaccination.
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Apply at home “Start Quote
End Quote Sean Sullivan Study leaderWe envision people getting the patch in the mail or at a pharmacy and then self administering it at home”
If proven to be effective in further trials, the patch would mean an end to the need for medical training to deliver vaccines and turn vaccination into a painless procedure that people could do themselves.
It could also simplify large-scale vaccination during a pandemic, the researchers said.
Although the study only looked at flu vaccine, it is hoped the technology could be useful for other immunisations and would not cost any more than using a needle.
"We envision people getting the patch in the mail or at a pharmacy and then self-administering it at home," said Sean Sullivan, the study lead from Georgia Tech.
"Because the microneedles on the patch dissolve away into the skin, there would be no dangerous sharp needles left over."
Co-author, Professor Richard Compans from Emory University Medical School, said the vaccine does not have to penetrate deeply because there are immune cells present just below the surface of the skin.
"We hope there could be some studies in humans within the next couple of years," he said.
Autom, the Diet Robot, Set to Launch in 2011
Who needs a friend when you can have Autom by your side, counting calories, monitoring exercise and providing progress reports? That’s right, a new diet robot will soon be available, courtesy of Hong Kong start-up Intuitive Automata. For a mere $500 (+/-), you can have an adorable 15-inch robot who will bat its eyelashes, provide updates on its LCD screen and keep you on that diet.
The brainchild of Cory Kidd, an MIT grad and developer with Intuitive Automata, the robot is meant to encourage and engage dieters in a friendly way. Linked to the internet, Autom monitors your food intake and bats its eyelashes all in one fell swoop. According to a small study conducted by Kidd, dieters who used the Autom to track their dieting progress were able to stick to their diets twice as long as those using more traditional methods, such as logging the information on a computer or good old-fashioned paper.
The increased success using Autom may be due the “cute” factor. Apparently some of the users named their Autom and dressed it up. But you cannot deny that personal coaching, even from an automated robot, is a helpful weight loss tool. Motivation in a diet wanes significantly as the weeks progress, when weight loss stalls, or when faced with temptation. By monitoring your intake and exercise expenditures, you get real-time conversation and motivation from your mechanical buddy.
There is one catch, it looks like there will be a monthly fee associated with the Autom. The fee is for back-end services such as monitoring and medical advice. Autom will be tested in a pilot program with a major insurance company early in 2011, maybe in time to help with New Year’s weight loss resolutions.
If you are interested in beginning your weight loss now, visit the HealthNews diet pages and test out our Individual Diet Selection tool, which can help find the right diet for you lifestyle.
Homeopathic Zinc Nasal Spray May Affect Sense of Smell
American consumers spent an estimated $34 billion on alternative medicine in 2007, with about $3 billion of that going toward homeopathic treatments. Homeopathy is a system of medicine pioneered by Samuel Hahnemann over a hundred years ago. The remedies work by treating along a specific Law of Cure, described as “like cures like.” Homeopathic pharmacies prepare the remedies according to a specific protocol that involve using the most minute doses needed for a cure.
Originally homeopathic treatments came in liquid or pellet form (to be used sublingually) and in the form of gels or creams (for topical applications). More recently, sprays have come into use for sore throats, allergies and colds and have become popular. In fact, over 40 percent of Americans seek help with their allergies from an alternative practitioner, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
Dr. Andrew Weil has been quoted as saying, “"For many people, homeopathy can be the last, best hope for ending allergy symptoms without side effects. Unlike the medications you mentioned, homeopathy can actually change the way your body responds to allergens, instead of merely suppressing the symptoms they cause."
However there is one product that may have a nasty side effect. In the July issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology, a study (of 25 participants) showed that zinc nasal gels and sprays were ineffective in preventing or reducing the duration of the common cold and could cause users to lose their sense of smell.
"In addition to concerns regarding the efficacy of intranasal zinc therapy, increasing evidence indicates that this medication may be linked to severe, potentially permanent hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) and anosmia (loss of smell)," the study says. However the study looked at patients who had come to UCSD Nasal Dysfunction Clinic complaining of an inability to smell after using homeopathic zinc gluconate gel intranasally. It was not a controlled study. But the researchers found evidence in the medical literature from a study in the 1930s to support their concerns.
On the flip side, a randomized trial conducted in 2001 by the Marshfield Medical Research Foundation showed that participants that had used the zinc sulfate nasal spray “had a significant reduction in the total symptom score and the nasal symptom score on day 1, but not on any of the other days. Adverse effects were mild and had no significant association with the use of zinc.
What this means is that zinc nasal gels and sprays, like any cold and allergy sprays, should be used carefully, according to labels, and should any side effect occur that its use should be discontinued immediately and you should seek a doctor’s attention.
الجمعة، 16 يوليو 2010
Restaurant Health Care Alliance Offers Health Insurance to Owners, Employees
Restaurant owners and their employees, including wait staff, cooks, and dishwashers, often do not have health insurance because it has not been affordable for a small business like a restaurant. The National Restaurant Association and UnitedHealthcare have teamed up and created the Restaurant Health Care Alliance, which offers various affordable health insurance options to restaurant employees in the United States.
According to UnitedHealthcare, 4 to 6 million people who work in the food service industry do not have health insurance at any given time. That represents a significant portion of the 12.7 million people employed by the restaurant industry, as noted by the National Restaurant Association. In an effort to provide both restaurant owners and their workers easy access to affordable health insurance options, the Restaurant Health Care Alliance launched its new program on May 22, 2010.
Initially, the program will be available only to state restaurant associations in Pennsylvania and Colorado, as well as insurance agents and advisers who represent restaurant clients in those two states. The Alliance plans to expand into other states throughout 2010.
Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, noted in a news release that “Our members will benefit by providing them easier access to affordable health care coverage for their employees and dependents and allow for future opportunities to provide added benefits.” The Alliance will also assist restaurant owners and employees in understanding the ins and outs of their health insurance plan and the options available to them, as well as tax and eligibility changes that are taking place in 2010 and in years to come.
UnitedHealthcare noted that it is offering restaurant workers innovative health plan options that provide significant savings in premiums when compared with traditional health plans. In some markets, UnitedHealthcare Catalyst(SM) is an available option that combines comprehensive catastrophic plan coverage with an up-front benefit allowance for specific preventive-care services.
Employees who do not have health insurance through their employer will be able to choose from a variety of UnitedHealthcare’s affordable individual and family plans beginning at less than $100 per month. Dental plans and discount health cards will be available as well.
The Restaurant Health Care Alliance is a health insurance resource for people employed by the food service industry. “We are excited about this unique opportunity to partner with the National Restaurant Association to tailor health care information and products that best meet the needs of restaurant owners and employees,” said Gail Boudreaux, president of UnitedHealthcare.
SOURCES:National Restaurant AssociationUnitedHealthcare
According to UnitedHealthcare, 4 to 6 million people who work in the food service industry do not have health insurance at any given time. That represents a significant portion of the 12.7 million people employed by the restaurant industry, as noted by the National Restaurant Association. In an effort to provide both restaurant owners and their workers easy access to affordable health insurance options, the Restaurant Health Care Alliance launched its new program on May 22, 2010.
Initially, the program will be available only to state restaurant associations in Pennsylvania and Colorado, as well as insurance agents and advisers who represent restaurant clients in those two states. The Alliance plans to expand into other states throughout 2010.
Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, noted in a news release that “Our members will benefit by providing them easier access to affordable health care coverage for their employees and dependents and allow for future opportunities to provide added benefits.” The Alliance will also assist restaurant owners and employees in understanding the ins and outs of their health insurance plan and the options available to them, as well as tax and eligibility changes that are taking place in 2010 and in years to come.
UnitedHealthcare noted that it is offering restaurant workers innovative health plan options that provide significant savings in premiums when compared with traditional health plans. In some markets, UnitedHealthcare Catalyst(SM) is an available option that combines comprehensive catastrophic plan coverage with an up-front benefit allowance for specific preventive-care services.
Employees who do not have health insurance through their employer will be able to choose from a variety of UnitedHealthcare’s affordable individual and family plans beginning at less than $100 per month. Dental plans and discount health cards will be available as well.
The Restaurant Health Care Alliance is a health insurance resource for people employed by the food service industry. “We are excited about this unique opportunity to partner with the National Restaurant Association to tailor health care information and products that best meet the needs of restaurant owners and employees,” said Gail Boudreaux, president of UnitedHealthcare.
SOURCES:National Restaurant AssociationUnitedHealthcare
Healthcare Finance Group
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Offers training health of the elderly from the state of Tesseney
CHATTANOOGA, TN – BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has partnered with Health Dialog, a Boston-based provider of healthcare analytics and decision support, to deliver 24/7 health coaching services to 42,000 Medicare Advantage members in the Volunteer State.
Health Dialog's health coaches are registered nurses who will help seniors over the phone with a wide variety of healthcare issues, including understanding symptoms, assessing urgent care needs, preparing for physician visits and learning about self care.
"We are impressed with Health Dialog’s extensive senior population experience," said Robert Slattery, vice president and general manager, senior care division, BlueCross. "Working with Health Dialog increases the value of our Medicare Advantage program. Our seniors will benefit from round-the-clock access to qualified nurses and will also have the peace of mind that comes with constant connectivity to a clinician."
"Seniors need tailored support," said Jason Robart, Health Dialog's senior vice president of client development. “Our health coaches currently serve nearly 1 million Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, so we understand the unique needs of this population. Whether it’s medication management, transitions in care, fall prevention, or aging, we pride ourselves on helping seniors with the issues that they most often face."
Health Dialog's health coaches are registered nurses who will help seniors over the phone with a wide variety of healthcare issues, including understanding symptoms, assessing urgent care needs, preparing for physician visits and learning about self care.
"We are impressed with Health Dialog’s extensive senior population experience," said Robert Slattery, vice president and general manager, senior care division, BlueCross. "Working with Health Dialog increases the value of our Medicare Advantage program. Our seniors will benefit from round-the-clock access to qualified nurses and will also have the peace of mind that comes with constant connectivity to a clinician."
"Seniors need tailored support," said Jason Robart, Health Dialog's senior vice president of client development. “Our health coaches currently serve nearly 1 million Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, so we understand the unique needs of this population. Whether it’s medication management, transitions in care, fall prevention, or aging, we pride ourselves on helping seniors with the issues that they most often face."
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