Archive for November, 2009

Rituximab may prove its real worth when it comes to treating a kidney disorder, membranous nephropathy, as per recent findings appearing in the April 2009 print issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).

It is worthwhile to note that the presently used treatment options for this disorder include steroids, chemotherapeutic agents, and calcineurin inhibitors and all of them have some considerable side effects.

From News-Medical.Net:

The available data suggest that current rituximab dosing achieves a 15% to 20% rate of complete remission and a 35% to 40% rate of partial remission: rates similar to the response rates of current treatments. Importantly, rituximab appears to be well-tolerated with minimal short-term side effects.

Rituximab may have potential for treating membranous nephropathy, but additional studies – in particular, randomized controlled clinical trials – are needed to prove the drug’s value. “Our conclusion is that, at present, rituximab should only be used in research settings,” said Dr. Bomback.

The authors reported no financial disclosures.

Andrew Bomback, MD (University of North Carolina Kidney Center), and his colleagues, were of the view that this study was able to suggest that rituximab dosing helps patients achieve a 15-20 percent rate of complete remission and 35-40 percent of partial remission.

It is believed by some members of the medical fraternity that this study on membranous nephropathy will help them provide great relief to their patients.

Anabolic steroids facilitate buildup of muscle tissue and enhance the production of testosterone, the male sex hormone, which promotes development of male sexual characteristics. The enhanced levels of testosterone in the human body is considered important for muscle mass and size apart from delivering dramatic performances on ongoing basis.

Let us have a close look at some advantages offered by steroids to gain a clear and complete insight.

Anabolic steroids help their users in more than a way. They facilitate enhancements in the levels of muscle size, mass, and strength. In addition to that, they reduce the levels of fatigue and muscle recovery times to a considerable extent that help users deliver dramatic performances on a continuing basis without feeling exertion.

Some of the most popular anabolic steroids are Anavar, Clenbuterol, Dianabol, Deca durabolin, Primobolan, Trenbolone, and Winstrol. These amazing anabolics are helpful to lose body fat and gain quality muscle mass at the same time, a benefit that is not present with any other bodybuilding substance.

So if you are looking to buy steroids and buying them easily then you can visit websites of online steroid sellers. There, you can buy steroids using VISA or MasterCard. In case you do not have any of these cards or do not want to use these cards for safety concerns, you can make the order payment via Western Union. It is as simple as that!

According to a study by neurologists at the Jefferson Headache Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, there are no additional advantages of combining steroids with local anesthetics for treating chronic headache pain.

These findings were obtained after 29 men and women were divided into two groups. One group was administered with GONB (greater occipital nerve block) with lidocaine and bupivicaine alone and the second group was administered with the two drugs with steroids.

From News-Medical.Net:

According to Avi Ashkenazi, M.D., assistant professor of neurology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, greater occipital nerve block (GONB) is a technique to treat acute headaches by locally injecting anesthetics such as lidocaine just under the skin to provide acute pain relief for acute headache attacks and migraines. Such treatments can work quickly, perhaps in seconds or by five to 10 minutes, and its effectiveness could last from hours to two or three days to several weeks. Treatment can be repeated if needed, he notes, and it has few side effects.

There are two ways to block the occipital nerves: by injecting a local anesthetic alone or by adding an anti-inflammatory steroid along with the anesthetic. No data exist whether one is better than the other, but the use of corticosteroids is controversial because of their potential side effects, such as hair loss at the site of injection. He notes that there is no consensus among headache experts about steroid use for headache.

Dr. Ashkenazi and his team are now focusing on the next four weeks of post-therapy data alongside recruiting more patients for conducting further trials. It was remarked during the study that there seems to be a possibility that the functionality behind steroids lengthening the anti-inflammatory effects of injections can be highlighted during the future trials.

Clomid, which is also known as Clomiphene Citrate, is best described as an antagonist or mixed estrogen found to be highly effective for stimulating LH production and testosterone. It is believed that this wonder drug is nothing less than exceptional for ensuring enhancements in the recovery stages of naturally-produced testosterone after the end of a steroid cycle.

The fact that Clomid reduces the risk of gynecomastia during a steroid cycle to a considerable extent is one of the many reasons that attract sportsmen. Having an active elimination half life of 5-7 days, Clomid offers best results when used in dosages of 50 mg per day for time duration of five days. The dosage may, however, be increased as per medical advice.

In addition to its bodybuilding use, Clomid is also prescribed to women who are unable to perform ovulation on their own. One thing that individuals looking to use Clomid must remember is that any existing allergy to Clomid or any of its ingredients (Clomiphene citrate USP, corn starch, pregelatinized cornstarch, and sucrose, lactose, and magnesium stearate) must be reported to the medical practitioner before seeking an approval.

In addition to that, individuals intending to use Clomid must seek qualified medical advice before initiating the use as abuse of Clomid can lead to side effects such as cataract, macular edema, retinal hemorrhage, retinal thrombosis, allergic reaction, and acne. In this sense, it is important to note that Clomid needs to be kept at a controlled room temperature of 59-86°F (15-30°C) in a closed container.

In short, Clomid is an exceptional bodybuilding product but users must use it with a high sense of care and diligence.

Patients treated with a combination of antihistamines and steroids can benefit from reduced allergic reaction symptoms to a significant extent, according to a study of cardiac patients who have suffered allergic reactions to clopidogrel, also known as Plavix.

Doctors from the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital said that after the symptoms have been minimized, patients can remain on the drug. The findings of this study were presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session by Primary investigator Michael P. Savage, M.D., director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Kimberly L. Campbell, M.D.

From News-Medical.Net:

“This is a very important study for many cardiac patients but especially those with stents,” said Savage. “Every patient who receives a stent must take Plavix to help prevent stent thrombosis which is clotting of the stent. This obviously poses major problems if the patient suffers an allergic reaction to the medication. To discontinue taking the drug can lead to a heart attack which may be fatal. Those with a drug eluting stent are required to be on the drug for at least one year. Our patients with drug eluting stents actually averaged 17 months on Plavix versus the minimum of one year. That’s a very long time to not be on a medication that may save your life.”

Plavix is one of the most prescribed drugs world-wide. Data from 2007 shows Plavix is the fourth most sold drug in the United States with almost four billion dollars in sales, according to IMS Health, a leading pharmaceutical industry monitoring company. It is estimated that about six percent of those taking the drug showed some signs of an allergic reaction.

John R. Cohn, M.D., chief of Adult Allergy at Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals and a key contributor to the study noted, “Previously, when patients had an allergic reaction to Plavix we would give an alternative drug but they can have their own side effects. Rather than giving the secondary drug we concentrated on suppressing the patient’s allergic symptoms they were having to Plavix by administering low doses of steroids and antihistamines while continuing the drug. What we found was that most of our patients became tolerant to Plavix, essentially becoming ‘desensitized’ to the drug enabling them to continue treatment. Once this occurred we were able to discontinue the steroids and even the antihistamines.”

It is considered by many researchers that Plavix allergy can be efficaciously managed without discontinuing the usage after a reaction has been experienced by the Plavix user. It is believed that these findings would help medical practitioners for treating allergic reactions to other life-saving drugs.

It is no hidden fact that preparation and efforts for any muscle building sport that requires steroid intake need immense amount of hard work to stay anywhere to the expected results. Apart from a dedicated exercise regime on a regular basis, the most important ingredient that one needs to take care about is the dietary. Since supplements and steroids are associated with muscle growth and strength gain, one needs to ensure that his or her body is being fed with just the right ingredients to reach the eyed goals.

Hence here are some supplements often consumed along with steroid intake to ensure optimum muscle growth. Let’s take a look:

Anabolic Flavones

Methoxyisoflavone and Ecdysterone are two latest supplements that are considered to be highly effective for anabolic gains. They are non-hormonal flavones responsible for natural increase in protein synthesis, nitrogen retention as well as musculature of the body. These substances work extremely well when taken with any form of protein supplement as they accentuate the absorption process in the body. There are some companies which even combine Methoxy with protein supplements to ease its intake. Some popular supplements in this genre include Gaspari Nutrition SuperPump250, Universal Animal M-Stak, and Xyience XTEST.

Amino Acids and BCAAs

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They form one of the most popular supplements consumed by bodybuilders playing an eminent role in repairing, growth and development of the muscle tissue. Thus branched chain amino acids happen to be most widely prescribed supplements for all steroid users. Some essential amino acids responsible for the primary growth are aminos leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These are available in product form as SciVation Xtend and VPX NO-SyntheSize.

However, it is always advised to consult a medical or a professional expert before going for any of these. This is so because every person’s body structure is different and some supplements might not be as effective for one’s body as for others.

Steroids used to be common in athletes in order for them to bulk up fast and easy. Nowadays, steroids are also use for aesthetic purposes only.

In Maricopa County, 2.5 percent of high school seniors admitted to using steroids, which is according to Mark Stanton of the Scottsdale Charros.

According to Don Hooton and Stanton, most steroids users nowadays are young high school girls.

These young girls are using steroids in order to achieve a six-pack abs figure. According to Stanton, the rate is even higher than those using meth. This proves to be a lot scarier because it means steroids are not prevalent among high school athletes but also in young people not involved in sports.

Don Hooton, president of the Hooton foundation, together with son Donald, went to Maricopa County to talk about steroids use not only among the students but to parents and coaches as well.

As a parent of a steroid user himself, Don said that he failed to see that his son was on steroids. He thought he was just getting bigger by going to gym and eating better.

Don was talking about his son Taylor, who used to be starting pitcher in his high school baseball team. Taylor started injecting himself with steroids after his coach told him he needed to bulk up in order to make it to the varsity team. However, seven months of steroids use made Taylor go into a state depression, which eventually resulted to suicide.

From abc 15:

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Don Hooton never in a million years thought his son was using steroids.

In fact, Don says he just thought his son was getting bigger by going to the gym and eating better.

Researches on how effective are anabolic steroids in bringing about changes in the physical performance of the person have always caught the headlines. Most studies last for about eight to six weeks and relatively employ untrained subjects for their research. The effects of anabolic steroids that invariably benefit people consuming them are as follows:

• Increase in body weight by an average of four pounds
• Increase in lean body weight by about six pounds. Here fat loss accounts for the discrepancy between gains in lean mass as well as body weight
• Increase in bench press by 15 pounds
• Increase in squats by about 30 pounds

However studies on the beneficial effect on maximal oxygen consumption or endurance capacity have shown conflicting results. Also changes that occur in the early part of the training with regards to strength are neutral. The increase that does occur in it in the later part is primarily due to due to an improved ability to recruit motor units. This happens after anabolic steroid intake starts initiating protein synthesis in the muscles. Hence Studies which normally last six weeks reflect neural changes in the early stages of steroid intake and are likely to miss the cellular effects of these drugs in the human body.

On the other hand, the gains seen in athletes during uncontrolled observations have shown more impressive results. They reveal weight gains up to thirty or forty pounds coupled with thirty percent increase in strength and are indeed no longer surprising. Such studies are often not given much importance because of the absence of scientific controls. But their credibility cannot be completely disregarded also because the ‘subjects’ involved are highly trained and motivated athletes.

In a nutshell, it can be concluded that steroid intake do show significant results in physical enhancement of its users and form an inevitable part of their daily regime.

The steroid triamcinolone can prove its real worth when it comes to treating patients with advanced diabetic macular edema (DME) when all other standard treatments fail to deliver, as per study reported by this month’s Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) to evaluate benefits of cataract surgery for patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at all stages of the disease.

From News-Medical.Net:

“Earlier epidemiology had suggested cataract surgery might worsen AMD, so the data from the AREDS cohort study were evaluated to answer this important question,” said Emily Y. Chew, MD, who led the study for NEI.

The cohort, comprising 1,939 eyes (1,244 patients) with various stages of AMD, was evaluated for visual acuity (sharpness) after cataract surgery. On average, patients with AMD, ranging from mild to advanced, gained visual acuity after cataract surgery; the best gains were in patients with vision worse than20/40 before surgery. No difference in improvement was noted between patients with “wet” (neovascular) or “dry” (central geographic atrophy) AMD. About one year later vision gains remained statistically significant in the 865 eyes available for follow-up. Results for the primary focus of AREDS, regarding the effect of nutritional supplements, showed that high doses of vitamins C, E and beta-carotene did not affect the development or progression of cataract, but this vitamin combination plus zinc did reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD by 25 percent in the five years of the study.

It is believed that these findings would prove helpful to scientists and patients all over the globe in the fight against cataract. It is considered that more than 80,000 people are suffering from cataract in the United States alone and this study may be more than just helpful for offering relief to cataract patients.

Letrozole is considered to be one of the most widely used estrogen reducers in today’s steroid market. This is because it can offer greater benefits than Nolvadex or Proviron when it comes to reducing or eliminating estrogen levels. This drug is also used by members of the medical fraternity for handling cases of infertility for ovulation induction. In addition to that, it is also hailed as an exceptional product when it comes to reversing the spread and extent of breast cancer after treatment options such as Tamoxifen therapy have failed to deliver any results.

Femara is chemically described as 4,4′-(1H-1,2,4Triazol-1-ylmethylene)dibenzonitrile and has the molecular weight of 285.31 g/mol. The inactive ingredients of Femara tablets are colloidal silicon dioxide, ferric oxide, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, odium starch glycolate, talc, and titanium dioxide.

Letrozole and Bodybuilding

Letrozole can reduce the levels of estrogens in bodybuilders and others by as much as 98 percent, which is more than what Proviron and Nolvadex can offer. Furthermore, it facilitates improvements in the levels of luteinizing hormone, sex hormone-binding globulin, and follicle-stimulating hormone to a great extent. This means that bodybuilders on anabolic steroids do not need to worry about water retention, acne, or gynecomastia. In short, this miracle drug is best for both bulking and cutting cycles that involve harsh androgens.

Recommended dose of Letrozole

The recommended dose of Letrozole is 2.5 mg per day, with or without meals.

It is important to note that Letrozole tablets are required to be kept at a controlled temperature of 25°C (77°F) with excursions permitted up to 15-30°C (59-86°F).