Some statins 'raise diabetes risk'

Statin pill Statins are part of many people's daily routine.

Related Stories

Some drugs taken to protect the heart may increase the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, according to researchers in Canada.
Their study of 1.5 million people, in the British Medical Journal, suggested powerful statins could increase the risk by 22% compared with weaker drugs.
Atorvastatin was linked to one extra case of diabetes for every 160 patients treated.
Experts said the benefits of statins still outweighed any risks.
Statins are a group of commonly prescribed drugs that lower the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood. This reduces the chances of a heart attack or stroke.
All drugs come with side-effects, but a team of researchers from hospitals in Toronto said there had been controversy around the risk of diabetes with different statins.
They looked at medical records of 1.5 million people over the age of 66 and compared the incidence of diabetes between people taking different statins.
Their report said: "We found that patients treated with atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, or simvastatin were at increased risk of new onset diabetes compared with those treated with pravastatin.
"Clinicians should considers this risk when they are contemplating statin treatment for individual patients.
"Preferential use of pravastatin... might be warranted."
Benefit Commenting on the study, Prof Risto Huupponen and Prof Jorma Viikari, from the University of Turku, in Finland, said: "The overall benefit of statins still clearly outweighs the potential risk of diabetes."
However, they said, the different statins should be targeted at the right patients.
They said: "The most potent statins, at least in higher doses, should preferably be reserved for patients who do not respond to low-potency treatment, but have a high total risk of cardiovascular disease."
Maureen Talbot, from the British Heart Foundation, said: "Statins are taken safely by millions in the UK and protect those at high risk of developing coronary heart disease.
"Although this study suggests an increased risk of older people developing diabetes when taking certain statins, other risk factors like being overweight, family history and ethnicity may have played their part.
"There are benefits and risks with all medicines so if you're worried, discuss your concerns with your GP."
No comments:

Unsafe abortion poses threat to fertility

TNN | May 23, 2013, 07.20 PM IST
READ MORE pregnancy|fertility|abortion
MUMBAI: Be aware, if you are opting unsafe way of abortion through pills to induce unwanted pregnancy, as later on you may land up with radical consequences of gynaecological complications while conceiving or bearing pregnancy. There is also higher risk of your getting deprived of joy of motherhood as unsafe abortion may lead you to infertility.

Medical abortion being an easy way to get rid of unwanted pregnancy has become the first choice of modern day's career oriented women; those who can't compromise their career for the sake of pregnancy. Medical abortion provides them liberty to enjoy their life without fear of bearing unwanted pregnancy. Therefore, the practice of girls randomly opting over the counter pills for abortion is rapidly increasing. Abortion through pills or Medical Abortion is a procedure for terminating an unintended pregnancy.

Globally, there are an estimated 76 million unwanted pregnancies each year. To induce unwanted pregnancies, varieties of abortion drugs are available in the market, which is used to terminate pregnancy without surgical procedure.

Dr Archana Dhawan Bajaj, obstetrician & gynaecologist, IVF and Fertility Expert, Nurture Clinic, "A non-sterile abortion; done by a quack often puts them at risk of infertility and worse still deaths! This in turn intensifies the number of deaths through abortions that occur when women with such unwanted pregnancies resort to unsafe abortion practices. The common causes of death from unsafe abortion are hemorrhage, infection, sepsis, genital trauma, and necrotic bowel. As per estimated figures it account for 12% of all maternal deaths."

95% of the people get abortion pills on their own. In 5% cases, there are chances of incomplete abortion. Sometimes, small pieces of foetus may leave inside. If this condition persist and left neglected may cause complication in future pregnancy. Therefore the patient is strictly instructed to have an internal vaginal ultrasound after 15 days. So that if there is any small piece left inside that could be removed through surgical procedure.

Medical Abortion is not applicable for all women, especially in case of asthma, heart diseases, severe rise in blood pressure and psychiatric illness it should be avoided. "What eventually follows after a non sterile abortion is PID, the major cause of infertility worldwide. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is developed from bacteria that infection reaches the reproductive organs through a non-sterile practice of abortion. About 20% of women develop the PID due to self abortion. It increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy (fertilization in the fallopian tubes). However, the severity of the infection, not the number of the infections, appears to pose the greater risk for infertility", adds Dr Bajaj

To prevent the progression of infection, antibiotic therapy can be immediately if diagnosis or history of abortion elicited. Such therapy can be revaluated when laboratory test results are available; infection may become chronic if treated inadequately. Hence to prevent the worse it is better that you get treated by a professional.

To control the situation there is need to educate women regarding their reproductive health which include providing accurate information choices and proper use of contraceptive method and better access to health centres.

Practitioners also needs to be better trained in safer abortion method and be able to transfer patients to a medical facility that is capable of providing emergency care when a complication arises says, Dr Bajaj.

No comments:

Soon, 3D-printed food for astronauts in space

Reuters | May 24, 2013, 07.14 AM IST
READ MORE Star Trek|NASA|3D food printer
CAPE CANAVERAL: In a scene right out of Star Trek, a Texas company is developing a 3D food printer for astronauts to create custom meals on the fly.

With support from Nasa, the firm, Systems and Materials Research Corp of Austin, intends to design, build and test a food printer that can work in space.

"This project is to demonstrate we can create and change the nutrition of the food and be able to print it in a low-gravity environment," the company's research director and lead chemist , David Irvin, said. Three-dimensional printers create solid objects by depositing droplets of material one layer at a time.

Systems and Materials intends to create nutritionally rich, aesthetically appealing and tasty synthetic food by combining powdered proteins, starches, fats and flavours with water or oil to produce a wide array of digital recipes. All the ingredients are designed for extremely long shelf-lives , making them suitable for long stays in space.

"The 3D printing system will provide hot and quick food in addition to personalized nutrition, flavor and taste," the company wrote in its proposal to Nasa.

"The biggest advantage of 3D printed food technology will be zero waste, which is essential in long-distance space missions," it added. Ultimately, the company sees food printers as a way to help feed a world population that is estimated to reach 12 billion by the end of the century. The technology may also have implications for the military.

"A 3D-printed food system can reduce military logistics, disposal waste, increase operational efficiency and mission effectiveness especially during wartime," the company said.

"In addition, 3-D printed food can provide optimal nutrient to the soldiers depending on their personal needs and level of physical activities." Eventually Irvin sees a day when food printers will play a role in everyday diet and nutrition. "The initial plan is to work with Nasa and the astronauts and then as things become commercially viable, we will definitely consider weight loss and weight gain" applications , Irvin said. The company's six-month , Small Business Innovation Research study contract, worth up to $125,000, is pending, said Nasa spokesman Allard Beutel.
No comments:
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)