Medicine.org - Treatment & Care

Treatments Being Explored for Alzheimer's Disease

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:39:48 -0400

What potential new treatments are being researched?

A number of new drugs are being tested to see if they prevent AD, slow the disease, or help reduce symptoms. Some ideas that seem promising turn out to have little or no benefit when they are carefully studied in a clinical trial.

Mild Cognitive Impairment.

During the past several years, scientists have focused on a type of memory change called mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is different from both AD and normal age-related memory change. People with MCI have ongoing memory problems, but they do not have other losses such as confusion, attention problems, and difficulty with language. The NIA-funded Memory Impairment Study compared donepezil (Aricept), vitamin E, or placebo in participants with MCI to see whether the drugs might delay or prevent progression to AD. The study found that the group with MCI taking the drug donepezil were at reduced risk of progressing to AD for the first 18 months of a 3-year study when compared with their counterparts on placebo. The reduced risk of progressing from MCI to a diagnosis of AD among participants on donepezil disappeared after 18 months, and by the end of the study, the probability of progressing to AD was the same in the two groups. Vitamin E had no effect at any time point in the study when compared with placebo.

Is There a Vaccine to Prevent Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Thu, 17 May 2007 14:02:34 -0400

In the future, scientists may develop a vaccine that can prevent UTIs from coming back.

Researchers in different studies have found that children and women who tend to get UTIs repeatedly are likely to lack proteins called immunoglobulins, which fight infection.

Children and women who do not get UTIs are more likely to have normal levels of immunoglobulins in their genital and urinary tracts.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Men

Thu, 17 May 2007 14:00:14 -0400

UTIs in men are often a result of an obstruction—for example, a urinary stone or enlarged prostate—or from a medical procedure involving a catheter.

The first step is to identify the infecting organism and the drugs to which it is sensitive.

Usually, doctors recommend lengthier therapy in men than in women, in part to prevent infections of the prostate gland.

Prostate infections (chronic bacterial prostatitis) are harder to cure because antibiotics are unable to penetrate infected prostate tissue effectively. For this reason, men with prostatitis often need long-term treatment with a carefully selected antibiotic.

Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTI's) in Women

Thu, 17 May 2007 13:57:03 -0400

Women who have had three UTIs are likely to continue having them. Four out of five such women get another within 18 months of the last UTI. Many women have them even more often. A woman who has frequent recurrences (three or more a year) can ask her doctor about one of the following treatment options:

Take low doses of an antibiotic such as TMP/SMZ or nitrofurantoin daily for 6 months or longer. If taken at bedtime, the drug remains in the bladder longer and may be more effective. NIH-supported research at the University of Washington has shown this therapy to be effective without causing serious side effects.

Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in Pregnant Women

Thu, 17 May 2007 13:52:33 -0400

A pregnant woman who develops a UTI should be treated promptly to avoid premature delivery of her baby and other risks such as high blood pressure.

Some antibiotics are not safe to take during pregnancy.

In selecting the best treatments, doctors consider various factors such as:

the drug's effectiveness,
the stage of pregnancy,
the mother's health, and

Treatment for Urinary Tract Infections

Thu, 17 May 2007 13:49:01 -0400

UTIs are treated with antibacterial drugs. The choice of drug and length of treatment depend on the patient's history and the urine tests that identify the offending bacteria. The sensitivity test is especially useful in helping the doctor select the most effective drug. The drugs most often used to treat routine, uncomplicated UTIs are trimethoprim (Trimpex), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, Cotrim), amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, Wymox), nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Furadantin), and ampicillin (Omnipen, Polycillin, Principen, Totacillin). A class of drugs called quinolones includes four drugs approved in recent years for treating UTI. These drugs include ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), and trovafloxin (Trovan).

Herbal Remedies for Urinary Tract Infections

Thu, 17 May 2007 13:18:02 -0400

Cranberry juice has been used for ages as a prevention or even a treatment for urinary tract infections. Most think that its effectiveness resides in increasing the acidic environment of the bladder and making it more hostile to bacterial growth. Recently, there has been some thought that it affects E. coli's ability to adhere to the urethra (tube which leads from the bladder to the outside). E. coli is found in all of our intestines. Women are more predisposed to urinary tract infections due to their shorter urethra and shortened length between the anus and the urethra.

Questions You Need to Ask Prior to Beginning Treatment for Ovarian Cancer

Mon, 14 May 2007 15:03:55 -0400

You may want to ask your doctor these questions before your treatment begins:

• What is the stage of my disease? Has the cancer spread from the ovaries? If so, to where?

• What are my treatment choices? Do you recommend intraperitoneal chemotherapy for me? Why?

• Would a clinical trial be appropriate for me?

• Will I need more than one kind of treatment?

• What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?

Treatment for Ovarian Cancer

Mon, 14 May 2007 15:01:19 -0400

Many women with ovarian cancer want to take an active part in making decisions about their medical care. It is natural to want to learn all you can about your disease and treatment choices. Knowing more about ovarian cancer helps many women cope.

Shock and stress after the diagnosis can make it hard to think of everything you want to ask your doctor. It often helps to make a list of questions before an appointment. To help remember what your doctor says, you may take notes or ask whether you may use a tape recorder. You may also want to have a family member or friend with you when you talk to your doctor-to take part in the discussion, to take notes, or just to listen.

Treatment of Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)

Sun, 13 May 2007 22:21:04 -0400

No cure exists for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, the following medications need to be considered.

• Stimulants
a) Binds to dopamine receptors
b) Works mostly in the cerebellum region of the brain
c) Takes effect in 2-3 weeks, and dosage doesn’t have to be increased
for several years.

Diabetic But Don't Want to Walk? Buy a Pedometer!

Fri, 11 May 2007 13:06:46 -0400

Recent research had a surprising result. The study was conducted among older, Hispanic and African Americans who had Diabetes. Older adults comprise 40% of all diabetics, so they are an important group to reach out to with assistance in exercising more frequently.

All the members in the study were furnished with a pedometer. Amazingly, they met their goal of 10,000 steps per week, and also increased the intensity of their exercise.

Exercising Safely for Diabetics

Fri, 11 May 2007 12:57:33 -0400

Are there any safety considerations for people with diabetes when they exercise?

Exercise is very important for people with diabetes to stay healthy, but there are a few things to watch out for.

You should avoid some kinds of physical activity if you have certain diabetes complications. Exercise involving heavy weights may be bad for people with blood pressure, blood vessel, or eye problems. Diabetes-related nerve damage can make it hard to tell if you’ve injured your feet during exercise, which can lead to more serious problems. If you do have diabetes complications, your health care provider can tell you which kinds of physical activity would be best for you. Fortunately, there are many different ways to get exercise.

Types of Exercise Which Are Good For Diabetics

Fri, 11 May 2007 12:54:21 -0400

What are some good types of physical activity for people with diabetes?

Walking vigorously,
hiking,
climbing stairs,
swimming,
aerobics,
dancing,
bicycling,
skating,
skiing,
tennis,
basketball,
volleyball, or
other sports which are active

Diabetes and Exercise

Fri, 11 May 2007 12:47:54 -0400

Why is it important for people with diabetes to be physically active?

Physical activity can help you control your blood glucose, weight, and blood pressure, as well as raise your “good” cholesterol and lower your “bad” cholesterol. It can also help prevent heart and blood flow problems, reducing your risk of heart disease and nerve damage, which are often problems for people with diabetes.

Blindness: Main Cause in Elderly is Macular Degeneration

Thu, 10 May 2007 16:26:31 -0400

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving.
AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. AMD causes no pain.

In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.