KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion recommending approval of the investigational antibiotic ZERBAXA™ (ceftolozane and tazobactam) for the treatment of the following infections in adults: complicated intra-abdominal infections, acute pyelonephritis, and complicated urinary tract infections. The CHMP positive opinion will be reviewed by the European Commission. Nimotop (Nimodipine) with free Rx If the European Commission affirms the CHMP opinion, it will grant a centralized marketing authorization with unified labeling that is valid in the 28 countries that are members of the European Union, as well as European Economic Area members, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. About ZERBAXA ZERBAXA (ceftolozane and tazobactam) for injection (1.5 g) is an antibacterial combination product for intravenous infusion consisting of the cephalosporin antibacterial drug ceftolozane sulfate and the beta-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam sodium. ZERBAXA is approved in the United States and is indicated in adult patients for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including pyelonephritis, caused by the following Gram-negative microorganisms: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. About Kamagra Oral Jelly (Sildenafil Citrate) with no prescription ZERBAXA used in combination with metronidazole is indicated in adult patients for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) caused by the following Gram-negative and Gram-positive microorganisms: Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacteroides fragilis, Streptococcus anginosus, Streptococcus constellatus, and Streptococcus salivarius. To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of ZERBAXA (ceftolozane and tazobactam) and other antibacterial drugs, ZERBAXA should be used only to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. About Plan B (Levonorgestrel) with no prescription When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. About Dorzox In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy. Important Safety Information about ZERBAXA Patients with renal impairment: Decreased efficacy of ZERBAXA has been observed in patients with baseline CrCl of 30 to =50 mL/min had a clinical cure rate of 85.2% when treated with ZERBAXA plus metronidazole vs 87.9% when treated with meropenem. About Tadalis SX (Tadalafil) without prescription In the same trial, patients with CrCl 30 to =5% of patients were headache (5.8%) in the cUTI trial, and nausea (7.9%), diarrhea (6.2%) and pyrexia (5.6%) in the cIAI trial. About Merck Today s Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Buy Walnut Oil online Merck is known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada. http://webmdmagazine.wordpress.com Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit .merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline products that the products will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (.sec.gov). Please see Prescribing Information for ZERBAXA (ceftolozane and tazobactam) at zerbaxa.com/pdf/PrescribingInformation.pdf.

Researchers have successfully pioneered a new technique that utilizes light to active chemotherapy drugs in specific cells, increasing the effectiveness of cancer therapies. Buy Diamox (Acetazolamide) without Rx The team describes its findings in the journal Cell. Cancer cells can now be specifically targeted by light. About Revia (Naltrexone) with no prescription Image credit: Malgorzata Borowiak, LMU Munich The research co-authored by Oliver Thorn-Seshold, PhD, and Prof. About Rulide (Roxithromycin) without prescription Dirk Trauner, both from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat, Munich, Germany. About Daivonex with free prescription They sought to solve the problem of the severe side effects experienced by some users of widely prescribed chemotherapeutic drugs. There are currently over 100 types of cancer currently identified, each classified by the cell that is affected. Alesse (Levonorgestrel / Ethinyl estradiol) without Rx Different types of cancer very rarely behave similarly, hence the huge challenge facing patients and health care professionals to identify the best treatment. Buy Raspberry Tea online Traditionally, chemotherapy drugs do not specifically target cancer cells, and so intersect with the function of normal cells, causing severe side effects such as heart and nerve damage. http://webmd-review.blogspot.com Due to this risk, the treatment can only be administered in relatively low doses and does not provide the best therapeutic benefit. To overcome this challenge, scientists developed a method for optically controlling microtubule inhibitor drugs that are currently in clinical trials. Inhibitors interfere with the function of microtubules, components of the cell s skeleton that play a key role in cell proliferation, migration and survival. Researchers identified a fixed structural element required for a drug s biological activity and replaced this element with a flexible hinge that can swing open or shut in response to blue light. Prof. Trauner describes the advantage of the technique: "The upshot is that our compounds retain the powerful anticancer effects of existing microtubule inhibitors but add the bonus of tissue-specific localization." The modified compounds, called "photostatins," are effective at inhibiting the proliferation and survival of cells targeted by light, but neighboring cells are unaffected. This technique can be used numerous times, making it suitable for long-term applications in both the clinic and lab. The new development also opens the door for further research because the technique targets a critical microtubule subunit located in the cells of all plants and animals. This method may be adapted to study or treat a broad range of organisms or processes, or even potentially a broad range of diseases in humans. Truly therapeutic Dr. Thorn-Seshold hopes the elimination of the unwanted side effects ensures "the new compounds will be able to be used in medicine at dosages that are truly therapeutic in tumors, thus achieving a much more effective therapy than currently possible." In future clinical settings, scientists hope the technique can treat a range of conditions. Eye cancer patients can be treated wearing blue-tinted glasses and skin cancer with a bandage that delivers light. An implantable network of tiny LEDs that blink every few minutes to maintain the chemotherapeutic effect can be used for internal tumors. Dr. Thorn-Seshold hopes the results will be an important step in the development of cancer treatment, he said: "The field of photopharmacology is very young, so it may take some time for the pharmaceutical industry to recognize the value of compounds. Yet if our ongoing studies are successful, we will have a convincing proposition for further preclinical development, and we are committed to getting as far into real therapy as we can." Written by Peter Lam

Smoking and preterm birth combine to triple risk of maternal CVD

A combination of smoking and giving birth preterm can more than triple the risk of cardiovascular disease faced by mothers, according to the findings of a new study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. The study authors wanted to find out whether the coexistence of smoking and preterm birth would combine to result in further increases in maternal cardiovascular disease risk. The authors also found that the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) increased for mothers in a dose-response relationship with how many and how severe the preterm births were. "Our research shows for the first time that smoking and preterm birth interact to create a greater CVD risk than either risk factor on its own," says lead author Dr. Buy Crestor (Rosuvastatin) without Rx Anh D. About Sinemet Cr (Carbidopa-Levodopa) without prescription Ngo, a research fellow at the University of Sydney in Australia. While smoking is recognized as a risk factor for CVD, women are particularly dissuaded against it if they become pregnant. Buy Shallaki () without prescription In addition to the usual risks, smoking can expose babies to harmful chemicals while in the womb, hinder growth and increase the risk of preterm birth and certain postbirth health problems. Preterm birth is also known to increase the risk of CVD, with previous studies revealing that women with a history of preterm birth have a 1.2-4 times higher risk of CVD than women who have term babies. "Smoking and preterm birth are established risk factors for maternal CVD," states Dr. Buy Cycrin with no prescription Ngo. About Arcoxia (Etoricoxib) with no Rx "Fertility treatment is pushing up rates of preterm birth and smoking in pregnant women remains high, so knowledge of the impact of these conditions on CVD is important for prevention efforts." To find out whether the two conditions would combine to increase the overall CVD risk faced by mothers, the researchers looked at the perinatal records of 902,008 mothers during 1994-2011 alongside records for any hospital admissions or deaths from CVD. The researchers discovered that the two conditions - smoking and preterm birth - were both independently and significantly associated with an increased risk of CVD. Buy Probiotics online Compared with nonsmokers who had term births, smoking mothers who gave birth preterm were 3.35 times more likely to develop CVD. "Smoking and preterm birth synergistically increase maternal cardiovascular disease risk," Dr. http://pharmaceuticaljournal.wordpress.com Ngo reports. "When these two conditions coexist in the same individual, they interact to produce a joint effect on maternal CVD risk that is 29% greater than the sum of effects when they act alone." The impact of recurrent and severe preterms births The risk of CVD for smoking mothers increased in comparison with nonsmoking mothers with term births according to the severity of the preterm births. Extremely preterm births (20-33 weeks gestation) increased CVD risk 3.83 times and moderately preterm (34-36 weeks gestation) births increased CVD risk 3.18 times. Recurrent preterm births among smoking mothers also increased CVD risk. Smoking women with two or more preterm births were 4.47 times more likely to develop CVD, while smoking mothers with just one preterm birth were 3.2 times more likely - both in comparison with nonsmoking women with term births. Dr. Ngo suggests one explanation for their findings: "One explanation could be the stress of caring for a preterm infant which may lead to unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, which increases the likelihood of future preterm births. Stress itself causes metabolic disorders, atherosclerosis and ultimately CVD." Unfortunately, as the study only categorized mothers as having never or ever smoked, the researchers were unable to analyze the effects of smoking severity or whether the women smoked throughout their pregnancy or quit. Despite this limitation, Dr. Ngo believes the findings have implications for CVD prevention, suggesting that smoking women who are considering assisted reproduction technology should be counseled on their risk of preterm birth and future CVD. "Doctors should take into account the joint effects of smoking and preterm birth when assessing a woman s CVD risk," he concludes. "Doctors should also consider the need for preventive therapy to timely control for biological disorders preceding CVD such as hypertension and dyslipidemia when these occur." Recently, Medical News Today reported on a study revealing that drinking alcohol during pregnancy is a prevalent practice despite medical guidelines advising against it. In particular, the study found that smokers were 17% more likely to drink during pregnancy. Written by James McIntosh

Should we be worried about e-cigarettes?

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Emotional awareness training 'reduces severe crime reoffending rates'

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Bosutinib is well-suited for older patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor bosutinib appears to be well-suited for chronic myeloid leukemia patients who are elderly and have multiple co-morbidities, according to results presented at the 20th Congress of the European Hematology Association. The investigators examined data obtained from 4,166 tyrosine kinase inhibitor-treated patients who were followed for a median of 13 months. Dr. Buy Super Avana (Avanafil + Dapoxetine) without prescription Stuart Goldberg, with the Division of Leukemia at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, and colleagues used information from a large medical claims database to determine patient characteristics and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) that may underlie treatment choices in adult chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Buy Altace (Ramipril) without Rx The investigators examined data obtained from 4,166 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-treated patients who were followed for a median of 13 months. The study demonstrated that bosutinib was associated with a lower risk of serious TEAEs than other TKIs. Atrovent (Aerovent) with no prescription "Notably, bosutinib had a reduced rate of TEAEs even when administered as a third-line agent and despite the fact that bosutinib-treated patients were older and had more co-morbidities than patients treated with other TKIs," Dr. About Cinnarizine with free Rx Goldberg said. Diflucan (Fluconazole) without Rx The management of CML has changed dramatically since the introduction of TKIs, with most patients experiencing cytogenetic and molecular remissions, and more than 90% of them achieving long-term survival in the clinical trial setting. Buy Liver Supplements online The development of second- and third-generation agents has provided hematologists and oncologists with additional salvage treatment options for nonresponding patients and has also given clinicians the ability to match agents with patient characteristics in order to minimize potential toxicity. Clinical trials may not be representative of real-world settings However, most information about TKI therapy in CML is derived from large clinical trials that include restrictive entry criteria with rigorous monitoring and treatment algorithms. Thus, the results of clinical trials may not be representative of treatment patterns or outcomes in real-world settings. In the study reported at the European Hematology Association meeting, about one third of patients were more than 60 years of age, and most had significant pre-existing morbid conditions. http://web-md.blogspot.com Many of these patients would not have been eligible for clinical trials. The analysis found that imatinib was the most commonly used first-line agent in the community setting, dasatinib and nilotinib were the most commonly used second-line agents, and bosutinib and ponatinib were the most commonly used third-line agents. Also, bosutinib-treated patients were the oldest (with a median age of 56 years) and had the most co-morbid conditions (with a mean Charlson Co-Morbidity Index score of 6.2). Bosutinib-treated patients were more likely to have a history of vascular occlusive conditions, kidney diseases and pleural effusion at baseline. However, bosutinib-treated patients had the lowest rates of serious TEAEs, except for diarrhea. In particular, serious cardiovascular events were significantly less common in the bosutinib group. For example, only 1% of them developed treatment-emergent congestive heart failure versus 6% of ponatinib patients. Fluid retention occurred in 3% of bosutinib patients compared to 10% of ponatinib, 6% of dasatinib and 5% of nilotinib patients. "Thus for the patient with a significant cardiac history, bosutinib may be a good therapeutic option," Dr. Goldberg said. Only 15% of the bosutinib group discontinued treatment because of serious TEAEs versus 19-29% with the other TKIs. "We were comforted to find that the overall toxicity profiles of TKIs in CML patients in the real-world setting mirror those seen in clinical trials," Dr. Goldberg added. He emphasized that the findings need to be confirmed in multivariate analyses and larger sample sizes. Written by Jill Stein

A collaborative team of researchers from the University of Leicester in the UK and Ronald Reagan University College-Los Angeles Medical Center, CA, claims to have made "a spectacular discovery" in understanding how memories are formed. The scientists showed the participants images of celebrities and famous landmarks, both separately and combined, such as Clint Eastwood appearing in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.Image credit: University of Leicester Published in the journal Neuron, the findings are the result of a 5-year study led by Dr. Kamagra Effervescent (Sildenafil Citrate) with no Rx Matias Ison and Prof. Atarax (Hydroxyzine) without prescription Rodrigo Quian Quiroga at the University of Leicester and Dr. About Terramycin (Oxytetracycline) Itzhak Fried at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. "Almost a decade ago, when I obtained a PhD in Statistical Physics from the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina," says Dr. Buy Channel Ison, "I decided to join Quian Quiroga s team at the University of Leicester to work on Neuroscience. About Effexor (Venlafaxine) Back then it was hard to imagine that I was going to be able to contribute to the understanding of how the brain works at such [a] vital level. Buy Lactose Intolerance online It really feels like a major achievement." This study, which was conducted in humans, builds on findings from previous animal studies of the role the medial temporal lobe plays in the formation of episodic memories. However, animal studies are limited in what they can tell us, because the experiments are reliant on extensive reward-based training with stimuli that are not natural. http://cholesterolreviews.wordpress.com The authors behind the new study say that this approach left it unclear as to how individual neurons might encode episodic memories naturally. The activity of more than 600 individual neurons was recorded in the new study using electrons implanted in the median temporal lobes of 14 participants. All of the participants had severe epilepsy, and the electrodes had been implanted to identify the focus of seizures for potential surgical cure. The first phase of the experiment involved the participants viewing pictures of family members, famous actors, athletes and places, such as the Eiffel Tower and the White House. The scientists then showed the participants composite images that put the people and places the patients had viewed separately in combinations, such as Clint Eastwood appearing in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Composite images caused neurons previously activated by just one image to fire for both After seeing the composite images just once, the patients learned to associate the people and places. Analyzing the participants neural activity, the researchers found that - after viewing the composite images - the same medial temporal lobe neurons that fired when the participants first viewed, for instance, Clint Eastwood, now also fired when the participants saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa on its own. And the same neurons that were activated when the patients first saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa image now also lit up when they saw Clint Eastwood on his own. "It was impressive to see how individual neurons signaled the learning of new contextual associations between people and places and that the changes in firing could occur just after one instance," says Dr. Ison. "This was also compatible with basic mechanisms underlying episodic memory formation." He continues: "The astonishing fact was that these changes were dramatic, occurring at the exact moment of learning, even after one trial. The emergence of associations between concepts after a single trial, linked to rapid neural activity changes, turned out to be ideal for the creation of new episodic memories." Next, the researchers will investigate why some related concepts are consolidated into long-term memories while others are discarded. The team wants to see if it is possible to retrieve these forgotten memories by stimulating the brain. Written by David McNamee

A new study has suggested that obese adolescent women who are sexually active are less likely to use contraception than their peers with healthy weights. Vasotec (Enalapril) with free prescription Those that did use contraception, meanwhile, were found to be less likely to use it consistently. When obese adolescent women did use contraceptives such as the oral contraceptive pill, they were less consistent in using them than peers with normal weights. Researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, assessed the sexual practices and contraceptive use of 900 women aged 18-19 in a longitudinal study. Buy Cialis Super Active (Tadalafil) without prescription Their findings indicate that obese adolescent women could be at an increased risk of unintended pregnancy. "Reducing adolescent pregnancy is a national public health priority and we need to understand which adolescents are at higher risk of pregnancy," says lead author Dr. About Retin-A (Tretinoin) Tammy Chang, an assistant professor of family medicine. "Our findings suggest that obesity may be an important factor associated with adolescent women s sexual behavior." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rates of teenage pregnancy have fallen in recent years. About Cardura with no prescription In 2013, 273,105 babies were reported to have been born to women aged 15-19 years, a 10% drop from 2012. About Glycomet (Metformin) with no prescription Despite this decrease, however, the teen pregnancy rate in the US is significantly higher than in many other western industrialized nations. There are numerous health consequences associated with adolescent pregnancy, which include miscarriage and stillbirth alongside indirect outcomes such as living in poverty and relying on public assistance. Buy Headaches online Similarly, obese pregnant women are at an increased risk for many other conditions, such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, blood clots, birth-related injuries and requiring delivery by Cesarean section. "Understanding sexual behaviors by weight status among adolescents is critical because of the risk of dangerous outcomes for moms and babies associated with obesity," explains Dr. http://allergy-opinion.blogspot.com Chang. Research is particularly warranted among 18-19-year olds, who are at the greatest risk of pregnancy among adolescents. Obese adolescents less protected from unintended pregnancy For the study - published in The Journal of Pediatrics - the researchers analyzed a total of 26,545 weekly journal surveys for 900 women aged 18-19 obtained over the course of a year. The surveys measured sexual practices including use of contraceptives, number of sexual partners and average length of relationships for participants. Each participant was also assessed by research staff in a face-to-face interview at the start of the study where their weight was measured. The researchers found no differences in the number of partners, length of relationships and frequency of sex reported by obese women and their normal weight peers. However, obese participants were less likely to use contraception during weeks involving sex (84% of weeks) than those with normal weight (91% of weeks). In addition, when contraception was used, obese women only reported using it consistently for 68% of these weeks, compared with normal weight women who used contraception consistently for 78%. "Consequently, sexually active obese adolescents in our sample were less protected from unintended pregnancy, compared with normal weight adolescents," the authors conclude. They suggest that lower levels of contraceptive use may be attributable to socioeconomic barriers and limited health literacy that could be behind the development of obesity. Low self-esteem could also make obese adolescents feel uncomfortable acquiring contraceptives from clinicians or over-the-counter. It is important that researchers investigate why specific groups at greater risk of obesity and adolescent pregnancy, as the two health statuses can contribute to a cycle of poor health among mothers and their children. "By understanding the barriers that put certain groups of teens at higher risk of unintended pregnancies, clinicians and researchers can tailor interventions to empower adolescents to make healthier sexual choices," concludes Dr. Chang. Recently, Medical News Today reported a study in which researchers have identified a new genetic form of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Written by James McIntosh

A new study has suggested that obese adolescent women who are sexually active are less likely to use contraception than their peers with healthy weights. Vasotec (Enalapril) with free prescription Those that did use contraception, meanwhile, were found to be less likely to use it consistently. When obese adolescent women did use contraceptives such as the oral contraceptive pill, they were less consistent in using them than peers with normal weights. Researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, assessed the sexual practices and contraceptive use of 900 women aged 18-19 in a longitudinal study. Buy Cialis Super Active (Tadalafil) without prescription Their findings indicate that obese adolescent women could be at an increased risk of unintended pregnancy. "Reducing adolescent pregnancy is a national public health priority and we need to understand which adolescents are at higher risk of pregnancy," says lead author Dr. About Retin-A (Tretinoin) Tammy Chang, an assistant professor of family medicine. "Our findings suggest that obesity may be an important factor associated with adolescent women s sexual behavior." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rates of teenage pregnancy have fallen in recent years. About Cardura with no prescription In 2013, 273,105 babies were reported to have been born to women aged 15-19 years, a 10% drop from 2012. About Glycomet (Metformin) with no prescription Despite this decrease, however, the teen pregnancy rate in the US is significantly higher than in many other western industrialized nations. There are numerous health consequences associated with adolescent pregnancy, which include miscarriage and stillbirth alongside indirect outcomes such as living in poverty and relying on public assistance. Buy Headaches online Similarly, obese pregnant women are at an increased risk for many other conditions, such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, blood clots, birth-related injuries and requiring delivery by Cesarean section. "Understanding sexual behaviors by weight status among adolescents is critical because of the risk of dangerous outcomes for moms and babies associated with obesity," explains Dr. http://allergy-opinion.blogspot.com Chang. Research is particularly warranted among 18-19-year olds, who are at the greatest risk of pregnancy among adolescents. Obese adolescents less protected from unintended pregnancy For the study - published in The Journal of Pediatrics - the researchers analyzed a total of 26,545 weekly journal surveys for 900 women aged 18-19 obtained over the course of a year. The surveys measured sexual practices including use of contraceptives, number of sexual partners and average length of relationships for participants. Each participant was also assessed by research staff in a face-to-face interview at the start of the study where their weight was measured. The researchers found no differences in the number of partners, length of relationships and frequency of sex reported by obese women and their normal weight peers. However, obese participants were less likely to use contraception during weeks involving sex (84% of weeks) than those with normal weight (91% of weeks). In addition, when contraception was used, obese women only reported using it consistently for 68% of these weeks, compared with normal weight women who used contraception consistently for 78%. "Consequently, sexually active obese adolescents in our sample were less protected from unintended pregnancy, compared with normal weight adolescents," the authors conclude. They suggest that lower levels of contraceptive use may be attributable to socioeconomic barriers and limited health literacy that could be behind the development of obesity. Low self-esteem could also make obese adolescents feel uncomfortable acquiring contraceptives from clinicians or over-the-counter. It is important that researchers investigate why specific groups at greater risk of obesity and adolescent pregnancy, as the two health statuses can contribute to a cycle of poor health among mothers and their children. "By understanding the barriers that put certain groups of teens at higher risk of unintended pregnancies, clinicians and researchers can tailor interventions to empower adolescents to make healthier sexual choices," concludes Dr. Chang. Recently, Medical News Today reported a study in which researchers have identified a new genetic form of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Written by James McIntosh

New antibody treatment may protect against Marburg and Ebola viruses

New immune molecules have been identified that offer protection against Marburg virus - a deadly relative of Ebola virus. The above antibodies identify and neutralize Marburg virus, which inflicts a mortality rate of up to 90%. Buy Protonix (Pantoprazole) with free Rx Image credit: The Scripps Research Institute Identified in 1967 among laboratory workers in Uganda who had handled infected animals, Marburg virus was the first of the class of viruses known as filoviruses - which also includes Ebola - to be identified. Buy Female Cialis (Tadalafil) with no prescription The most lethal strain of Marburg emerged in 2004, resulting in an outbreak with a catastrophic fatality rate of 88%. Buy Hytrin (Terazosin hydrochloride) with free prescription The virus is known to have a mortality rate of up to 90%. With the world still reeling from the Ebola epidemic of 2014, there is renewed interest in the deadly potential of filoviruses and what treatments may be effective against them. Previously, researchers from The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA, had discovered the molecular structure used by the Marburg virus to attach itself to and enter host cells. Key to defeating the virus is identifying vulnerable sites on the surface of the virus that antibodies can bind to. Biselect with no prescription Studies have found that certain "cocktails" of antibodies can raise an alarm to the immune system and block Ebola virus from entering new cells, so scientists have been investigating similar approaches to tackle Marburg virus. Earlier this year, the Scripps team reported some success at identifying antibodies effective against one site on Marburg in a study conducted in association with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. About Lida Daidaihua () without prescription In the new study, the Scripps team designed proteins that elicited new antibodies effective against other sites on the virus. One of these targets was a site that had not been seen in previous studies of the virus. Buy Feverfew online This new site is described as "a wing-like feature" attached to the virus at its base. http://medicalhelper.wordpress.com The antibodies targeting this site were found to be effective at protecting 90-100% of the mice in the study from lethal infection. The researchers report that the antibodies investigated in the study are also effective against Ebola virus and its four viral relatives. Antibodies could be used to diagnose Marburg and Ebola mutations The study s first author, Marnie Fusco, says that as both Marburg and Ebola are likely to acquire new mutations, "the cross-reactive antibodies could be used as diagnostics for newly emerging strains." Cory Nykiforuk, director of pipeline research of Emergent BioSolutions - who initiated the study with the Scripps team 6 years ago - says: "Understanding where and how the antibodies interact with the virus tells us which regions can be targeted and helps us develop lead candidates for clinical development. There are multiple filoviruses that threaten our communities, frontline medical workers and defense personnel, and bringing new technologies to the forefront could potentially help meet future requirements." Nykiforuk s predecessor at Emergent BioSolutions, Jody Berry, adds that the "high cost of creating independent vaccines or treatments for each of the different viruses in this family necessitates intelligent design of immunogens (antibody-inducing molecules). The molecular images used to design the molecules and evaluate the antibodies point the way forward." Last year, a study published in the open-access journal mBio found that filoviruses such as Marburg and Ebola edit genetic material as they infect their hosts. Written by David McNamee