Common Health Articles

"Depression may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s", The Daily Telegraph says. It reports on a study that followed more than 900 Catholic clergy for up to 13 years. Buy lasix pills The study found that those who developed the disease had more symptoms of depression at the beginning of the study.
The main aim of the research was to look at changes in depressive symptoms in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. There is a known association between dementia and depression. However, there are different theories as to whether depression causes Alzheimer’s or whether they both develop because of a separate cause. By investigating changes in the severity of depression around the time that dementia develops, the researchers hoped to shed some light on the debate.
Their study found no increase in depressive symptoms before Alzheimer’s became evident. This suggests that depression is not an early sign of the same processes that cause dementia. The researchers say that this therefore implies that depressive symptoms are a risk factor for Alzheimer’s.
This study challenges the theory that depression and dementia are caused by another factor. It therefore adds weight to, but does not prove, the theory that depression is a risk factor for dementia. However, this study has shortcomings, and further research that is free of these should provide a clearer picture. Until more is known, depression sufferers should not be overly worried that they will develop dementia.
Where did the story come from?
Dr Robert Wilson and colleagues from the Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and the Center for Neurobiology and Behaviour at the University of Pennsylvania carried out the research. The study was funded by the National Institute of Aging. It was published in Archives of General Psychiatry, a peer-reviewed medical journal.
What kind of scientific study was this?
This was a cohort study designed to investigate the theory that depressive symptoms increase during the early stages of Alzheimer’s.
The researchers used participants from the Religious Orders Study, which has been investigating ageing and Alzheimer’s in a group of Catholic nuns, priests and brothers since 1994. The researchers excluded those who already had dementia by giving the participants a clinical assessment to identify those with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s.
The researchers then identified those with depression using a recognised scale and gave them a score that related to the number of symptoms reported. They also asked about certain personality characteristics and looked at past medical history.
Each year, the participants completed a depression scale to score their symptoms, and underwent a complete neurological examination to identify any mild cognitive impairment or onset of dementia.
When the researchers analysed their results, 917 people were available who had been in the study for an average of eight years. Alzheimer’s was the only form of dementia that the researchers were interested in, so people who developed other types of dementia were excluded.
The researchers were particularly interested in how depressive symptoms changed once Alzheimer’s had developed while taking into account other factors that could affect depression, such as age, sex, level of education, personality and vascular conditions. They also considered whether the number of symptoms at the start of the study was associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
What were the results of the study?
The main finding from this study was that depressive symptoms did not change prior to the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease being made, or following diagnosis.
During follow up, 190 participants went on to develop Alzheimer’s after an average of four years of follow up. They tended to be older and had poorer mental state scores as well as greater problems with memory and cognition at the beginning of the study.
The researchers confirmed the findings of previous studies by noting an association (not necessarily causal) between the measure of depression at the start of the study and incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. Those who developed Alzheimer’s were also older, had lower levels of cognitive function, were more concerned about their memory and had different personalities.
What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?
The authors conclude that there is no increase in depressive symptoms during the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. They say that these results do not support the ‘reverse causality’ theory about depression and Alzheimer’s, i.e. that depression is an early sign of the processes leading to dementia. The study therefore implies that depression may be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?
This study was set up to investigate whether symptoms of depression increased prior to dementia becoming established. It was carefully conducted and included a large number of medical assessments using recognised clinical criteria for diagnosing disease.
However, it should be noted that the participants were all older members of a religious order whose lifestyle and health behaviour may differ significantly from the general population. The participants also reported their symptoms themselves. Self reporting can introduce some error, particularly in people with cognitive impairment. Additionally, despite being a relatively large study, the number of people who went on to develop Alzheimer’s was quite small. Much larger numbers would be useful to draw more meaningful results. Finally, although the researchers tried to account for factors associated with the condition, such as age and family history, it is unclear whether their analysis has accomplished this fully.
Rather than investigating whether depression causes Alzheimer’s, this study was actually set up to investigate the theory that depression is an early indicator of the processes that cause dementia. It did not find evidence to support this theory.
It is often difficult to unpick the complexities of causation and association. Studies such as this add to the body of evidence behind the different theories. With the current level of knowledge, sufferers of depression should not be overly worried that they are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Links to the headlines
Depression linked to Alzheimer’s. BBC News, April 09 2008
This news comes from NHS Choices
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The results of new research on blood pressure
announced today reveal that despite Irish people getting their blood
pressure checked, the majority of them do not know what their reading is
(1). The research was commissioned by Boehringer Ingelheim in advance of
World Hypertension Day 2008 this Saturday, 17th May. High blood pressure,
or ‘hypertension’, is a very common disorder in Ireland and is associated
with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, heart attack,
kidney failure, and death. Unfortunately, there are no symptoms of
hypertension and the only way it can be diagnosed is by having one’s blood
pressure measured at regular intervals. About half of Irish adults over 50
years of age have high blood pressure (2).
Over 80% of those surveyed claimed to have had a blood pressure measurement
in the last year, but only a quarter recall their results and of those,
only about half (i.e. 14%) can recall their measurement with any accuracy
(1). In relation to the appropriate blood pressure measurement for a
healthy adult, only 33% claim to know what the normal measurement should be
(1).
The normal level of blood pressure is usually about 120 (systolic) over 80
(diastolic), but this can vary with age, how a person feels and activity. A
person with blood pressure higher than 140 over 90 should be seen for
follow-up by their family doctor. Generally anyone over 30 years old should
have their blood pressure checked every two years, preferably by their
family doctor.
When asked to rate cardiovascular diseases in order of what would be most
frightening to them 50% surveyed said a stroke, 34% said a heart attack,
13% said heart failure, with only 2% saying high blood pressure (1).
"As high blood pressure is the most important risk factor in stroke, it is
a matter of concern that only 2% of people rate this as most frightening.
This finding indicates that there is a disconnect amongst people as to what
causes stroke. It is important to realise that, if left untreated, this
’silent killer’ as it is often called, can cause a stroke. Allowing it go
untreated can potentially lead to this life threatening condition, amongst
other conditions such as heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease,"
said Generic acomplia pills no prescription Dr. John Cox, a General Practitioner in Fethard-on-Sea with an
interest in hypertension. "Fortunately, high blood pressure is easy to
diagnose and usually controllable with lifestyle modifications (diet,
exercise & weight reduction) and for some, medication where necessary. I
would advise people to ask their GP or healthcare provider to give them
their blood pressure reading at the time it is taken, and to keep a record
of it for future reference. The main message is, check your blood pressure
and know you reading."
When asked what time of day a person is most likely to have a
cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, 80% of people
surveyed did not know that risk was greatest in the early morning hours
(1). The highest rise in blood pressure occurs in the early morning hours
(3), so for people with hypertension, the early morning hours pose the
largest risk (4, 5).
There is often no single cause of high blood pressure. A number of factors
can combine to raise blood pressure and high blood pressure tends to run in
families. Being overweight, having a high consumption of alcohol, poor
level of exercise, high stress levels and eating too much sodium (found in
salt) may lead to an increase in blood pressure. Blood pressure also
increases with age.
Another important finding was that 90% of those surveyed believe that in
most cases high blood pressure can be cured when treated. There is no cure
for high blood pressure, but it is controllable usually with lifestyle
modifications and medication if indicated. It was noted that there is a
general consensus over the broad descriptions of high blood pressure, with
96% agreeing that high blood pressure can lead to other problems such as
stroke, 93% agreeing that treating high blood pressure can reduce the
chance of a person having a heart attack or stroke and 86% believe high
blood pressure is often caused by poor diet and/or lack of exercise (1).
Of those surveyed about a third of adults (29%) aged 35+ have suffered high
blood pressure with the incidence most apparent among those aged 65+, in
the C2DE’s and those in the rest of Leinster, excluding Dublin (1).
Interestingly Dubliners recorded the lowest incidence of high blood
pressure, at 17% (1).
World Hypertension Day, initiated by the World Hypertension League in 2005,
was established to highlight the serious medical complications of
hypertension and to communicate to the public information on prevention,
detection and treatment. Each year, May 17th is designated World
Hypertension Day (6).
Research Methodology
This survey was conducted through Behaviour & Attitudes’ TeleBarometer
survey, which delivers a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults
aged 15+. Quotas used reflect census distribution of population (gender,
age, class, region, etc). All interviewing was conducted via the telephone
in Behaviour & Attitudes’ in-house Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing
(CATI) unit. Fieldwork was conducted between April 2nd - April 13th 2008.
The survey delivered a sample of 645 adults aged over 35. All interviewing
was conducted in accordance with the standards established for market
research by ESOMAR (Europe), MRS (UK) and Marketing Society (Ireland).
Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading
pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates
globally with 135 affiliates in 47 countries and 39,800 employees. Since it
was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to
researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high
therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
In 2007, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of 10.9 billion euro while
spending one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment
Prescription Medicines on research and development.

References:
1. ‘Awareness of and Attitudes to Hypertension’, Behaviour and Attitudes
TeleBarometer Research, April 2008
2. About half of Irish adults over 50
years of age have high blood pressure
3. Neutel, JM, et al. Magnitude of the early morning blood pressure surge
in hypertensive patients- pooled analysis. Poster presented at the 20th
Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hypertension, San Francisco,
14-18 May 2005.
4. Shimada, K, et al. Blood Press. Monit 2001; 6: 349-353.
5. Elliot, WJ, et al. Am. J. Hypertens. 2001; 14: 291S-295S.
6. World
Hypertension Day
Boehringer Ingelheim
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Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.,
announced that data presented at the American Society of
Hypertension’s Twenty- Third Annual Scientific Meeting (ASH 2008) in New
Orleans demonstrated that the powerful combination drug AZOR(TM)
(amlodipine and olmesartan medoxomil) safely and effectively helped
patients across several major subpopulations lower their blood pressure
(BP). An analysis of patient subgroups from the pivotal registrational
trial demonstrated the efficacy of AZOR in several key difficult to treat
patient groups including people of African and Hispanic/Latino decent,
people with high body mass index (Buy generic clomid BMI) and those with diabetes.
The subgroup analyses were based on data from a pivotal, randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled factorial design study conducted in 1,940
pts with mild to severe hypertension (SeDBP) 95-120 mm Hg) to determine
if amlodipine (AML) 5-10mg/day plus olmesartan (OM) 10-40 mg/day for eight
weeks is more efficacious in reducing BP versus monotherapy components. The
groups were chosen because each population generally have either poor
control rates (Blacks and Hispanic/Latinos),(1)(2) are difficult to control
(people with high BMI)(3) or require lower blood pressure to achieve
control (those with diabetes).(4)
"As we know, hypertension affects many people from all walks of life,"
said Suzanne Oparil, M.D., Director, Vascular Biology & Hypertension
Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, an investigator in the study
and President of ASH. "No two patients are alike, nor do any two people
present in the exact same way. This study has demonstrated that AZOR is an
important tool for physicians to consider when treating hypertensive
patients of different ethnicities and health characteristics, as well as
the more difficult to treat populations, such as people with diabetes."
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, affects approximately
72 million people in the United States and approximately one billion
worldwide.(5)(6) Called the "silent killer" because it often has no
specific symptoms, hypertension increases the risk of cardiovascular and
related diseases such as stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney
disease.(7) Of those diagnosed with high blood pressure, 64.9 percent do
not have the condition under control.(8)
ABOUT THE ANALYSES
RACE/ETHNICITY:
Blood pressure control in patients with hypertension remains
unsatisfactorily low in the US, particularly in Black and Hispanic/Latino
populations, with fewer than 30% of patients in these minority groups
treated to goal BP.(9)(10) Guidelines acknowledge that combination therapy
will be required for the majority of patients to attain BP goals, and
recommend that combination therapy utilizing agents from complimentary drug
classes should be considered when BP is difficult to control or there is
high cardiovascular risk, such as in minority patient
populations.(11)(12)(13)
Of the 1,940 patients who entered the eight week pivotal study, 1,459
were non-Black and 481 were Black. Further, ethnicity was asked separately
from race: 245 patients were Hispanic/Latino. All subgroups were matched
for baseline BP of 164/102 mm Hg. AZOR 10/40 mg demonstrated a 29/16 mm Hg
mean reduction in the Black cohort vs. 31/20 mm Hg in non-blacks. Further,
in the Hispanic/Latino study patient population, AZOR 10/40 mg demonstrated
a mean reduction of 29/21 mm Hg compared to 30/19 mm Hg in
non-Hispanic/non-Latino.
BMI:
A higher body mass index (BMI) often makes it more difficult for
patients with hypertension to achieve target BP.(14) The analysis of data
from the pivotal study demonstrated the ability of AZOR to produce
substantial reductions in BP compared to the monotherapy components,
regardless of BMI levels. For those patients with BMI greater than or equal
to 30 kg/m(2), AZOR 10/40 mg demonstrated mean reductions of 30/18 mm Hg
from an average baseline BP of 163/102 in the total cohort. Patients with
BMI of less than 30 kg/m(2) saw BP reductions of 31/21 mm Hg when treated
with AZOR 10/40 mg from an average baseline BP of 165/101 in total cohort.
DIABETES:
Patients with hypertension and diabetes are at greater risk of
cardiovascular and renal disease and consequently have a more stringent
recommended target BP goal of Buy generic clomid | Buy generic cialis | Buy viagra pills

NicOx S.A.
(Eurolist: COX) announced that Merck & Co., Inc. has initiated the
first in a series of planned clinical studies, in mild to moderate
hypertensive patients, under the companies’ collaborative agreement to
develop new nitric oxide-donating antihypertensive agents using NicOx’
proprietary technology. Three drug candidates have now been selected from
the companies’ joint research program, of which two have completed initial
dose ranging studies in healthy volunteers under the exploratory clinical
study paradigm with encouraging results.
Merck plans to conduct a number of clinical studies in hypertensive
patients involving single and multiple ascending dosing, prior to the
selection of a compound to be advanced into phase 2. The most advanced
candidate is now being evaluated in the first of these studies, which is a
single ascending dose trial in mild to moderate hypertensive patients. The
main objectives of this study are to assess the efficacy, safety,
tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single ascending doses of this
candidate. Subsequent studies will assess multiple ascending doses.
"The initiation of this series of clinical studies in hypertensive
patients is a very important step towards delivering a new treatment
paradigm for hypertension, where the medical need remains significant,"
commented Jacques Djian M.D., NicOx’ Cardiometabolic Area Leader. "We
believe these drug candidates have considerable potential as improved
antihypertensive agents based on their nitric oxide-donating properties and
we hope they will deliver a major advance in antihypertensive treatment for
patients worldwide."
In July 2007, NicOx announced the initiation of the first in a series
of studies in healthy volunteers for the selected candidates (see press
release of Buy acomplia without prescription July 16, 2007). Merck is responsible for funding and performing
the development of these compounds going forward.
To date, NicOx has received euro 19.2 million from Merck under this
agreement. NicOx also stands to receive potential additional milestone
payments of euro 269 million and industry standard royalties on the sales
of products which result from the agreement. Furthermore, NicOx has the
option to co-promote resulting products, on a fee-for-detail basis, to
specialist physicians in the United States and certain major European
countries.
"We are delighted that less than one year after the first drug
candidate entered human testing, we now have three drug candidates
identified and that the first of these has started patient dosing," said
Michele Garufi, Chairman and CEO of NicOx. "We look forward to continued
rapid progress in our collaboration with Merck and to the future
introduction of a new anti-hypertensive class on the market."
NicOx (Bloomberg: COX:FP, Reuters: NCOX.PA) is a product-driven
biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and future
commercialization of investigational drugs for unmet medical needs. NicOx
is applying its proprietary nitric oxide-donating technology to develop an
internal portfolio of NCEs in the therapeutic areas of inflammatory and
cardio-metabolic disease.
Resources are focused on the development of naproxcinod, a proprietary
NCE and the first compound in the Cyclooxygenase Inhibiting Nitric
Oxide-Donating (CINOD) class of anti-inflammatory agents, which is in phase
3 clinical studies for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of
osteoarthritis, with final phase 3 results anticipated in 2008.
Beyond naproxcinod, NicOx has a pipeline containing multiple nitric
oxide-donating NCEs, which are in development internally and with partners,
including Pfizer Inc and Merck & Co., Inc., for the treatment of prevalent
and underserved diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, glaucoma
and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
NicOx S.A. is headquartered in France and is listed on the Euronext
Paris Stock Exchange (Compartment B: Mid Caps).
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements.
Although the Company believes its expectations are based on reasonable
assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks
and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially
from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.
For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual
results, financial condition, performance or achievements of NicOx S.A. to
differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer
to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risque") section of the Document de
Reference filed with the AMF, which is available on the AMF website
() or on NicOx S.A.’s website
().
NicOx S.A.

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For many residents of Lower Manhattan, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, had lasting psychological consequences. New findings, released by the Health Department’s World Trade Center Health Registry, show that one in eight Lower Manhattan residents likely had posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) two to three years after the attacks. The findings show that Lower Manhattan residents developed PTSD at three times the usual rate in the years following 9/11. The rate among residents (12.6%) matched the rate previously reported among rescue and recovery workers (12.4%). Residents who were injured during the attacks were the most likely to develop PTSD. The new study, published online in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, is available online at
The new study - based on surveys of 11,000 residents through the World Trade Center Health Registry - is the first to measure the attack’s long-term effect on the mental health of community members. Aside from injured residents - 38% of whom developed symptoms of PTSD - the most affected groups were those who witnessed violent deaths and those caught in the dust cloud after the towers collapsed. Roughly 17% suffered PTSD in each of those groups. The symptoms most commonly reported were hyper-vigilance, nightmares and emotional reactions to reminders of 9/11.
Divorced residents reported symptoms at twice the rate of those who were married - possibly because they received less emotional support. Women were affected at a higher rate than men (15% versus 10%), a disparity documented in other disasters. And black and Hispanic residents reported more symptoms than whites. Low levels of education and income also increased people’s risk of PTSD.
Lower Manhattan Residents with PTSD in 2003-2004
All: 12.6%
Men: 10.1%
Women: 14.6%
White: 10.7%
African American: 20.6%
Hispanic: 24.7%
Asian: 8.9%
Earn $50,000 to $74,999: 11.3%
Earn less than $25,000: 19.8%
Less than high school diploma: 18.3%
College graduate: 11.1%
Married: 9.5%
Divorced: 21.5%
"These findings confirm that the experience of 9/11 had lasting consequences for many of those affected by it," said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, New York City Health Commissioner. "Any New Yorker who is still struggling with fear, anxiety, depression or substance use should seek treatment. Please call 311 if you need help finding treatment, or paying for it. Help is available."
—————————-
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
—————————-
Mental Health Treatment Options
In April, the Health Department announced a benefit program specifically for people experiencing mental health or substance-use problems related to 9/11. The Health Department will reimburse out-of-pocket costs for mental health or substance-use treatment through a claims process similar to any insurance benefit. In addition, free mental health services are available through the World Trade Centers of Excellence. Buy cialis without prescription New York City residents, and city workers in surrounding areas, can check their eligibility by visiting
About PTSD
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that stems from experiences involving intense fear, horror or hopelessness. People who develop the condition may become emotionally numb or hyper-alert. Many relive their trauma when reminded of it, and their lives are diminished by their efforts to avoid reminders. Many people recover with counseling or medication, but PTSD can lead to family problems, work problems and substance abuse.
Research at the World Trade Center Health Registry
The Health Department is now analyzing results from a follow-up survey conducted six years after the 9/11 attacks. New findings on the health status of registrants will be released in coming months. Research findings from the Registry’s first survey are available online at
The World Trade Center Health Registry, the largest public health registry in U.S. history, was launched in 2003 to track the health of people exposed to the collapse of the World Trade Center and those who worked at the WTC site. The registry is a collaborative effort involving the Health Department and the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Source: Sara Markt
New York City Health Department
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