Archive for March, 2010

The German biotech-company, Orthogen AG, has provided an substitute by offering the results of a new osteoarthritis trial with Orthokine.

It was remarked by Orthogen CEO Prof. MD. Peter Wehling in Dusseldorf/North-Rhine-Westfalia, that the Orthokine-therapy is safe as well as effective. It was also remarked that clinical results have suggested that the therapy results are far superior to those achieved using standard hyaluronic acid injection therapy and placebo.

From News-Medical.Net:

Ten to 20 percent of the population of western countries suffers from joint and spinal disorders. The therapies for these disorders are most expensive after circulatory and digestive diseases with a high market potential. According to official government statistics, orthopedic disorders cost EUR25 billion annually in Germany alone and approximately one-third of this amount is accounted by osteoarthritis. For many years now, musculoskeletal disorders have been the number one cause of work disability and the consequent economic loss in Germany.

“The problem with conventional OA-therapies such as painkillers, steroids and hyaluronic acid is that they act on the symptoms but leave the underlying causes of the disease untouched,” said Wehling, specialized in the role of cytokines in pain inhibition and tissue regeneration. In contrast Orthokine acts on the causal mechanism of arthritis and prevents further cartilage degeneration in the joints. “Orthokine could potentially become the new standard arthritis therapy,” Wehling said. Pharmacology experts also regard biologicals as the medications of the future.

The trial included 400 Patients and was realized in conformity with the international standards from Heinrich-Heine-University (Dusseldorf).

When it comes to eliminating the production of estrogens, there is no drug better and more reliable than Clomiphene Citrate. Read on!

Clomiphene Citrate, which is popularly known as Clomid, is an exceptional drug for sportsmen and bodybuilders on steroids especially during post-steroid cycle bodybuilding and ovulation.

Available in oral and injectable forms, Clomiphene Citrate reduces the harmful activities and side effects of harsh and aromatizable steroids to a significant extent. In addition to this, this mixed estrogen or an antagonist proves its worth by stimulating the production of luteinizing hormone and testosterone, the male sex hormone. It is best admired for its unique ability to reduce the risk of gynecomastia during a steroid cycle to a dramatic extent.

Chemical Properties

Clomiphene Citrate has the chemical name of 2-[p-(2-chloro-1,2-diphenylvinyl)phenoxy] triethylamine citrate (1:1). The inactive ingredients of this nonsteroidal, ovulatory stimulant are corn starch, pregelatinized cornstarch, sucrose, lactose, and magnesium stearate.

Having active elimination half life of 5-7 days, Clomiphene Citrate is to be used in doses of 50 mg per day for a period of five days at a stretch.

Clomiphene Citrate side effects

When abused or a low grade quality, Clomiphene Citrate can lead to side effects such as anxiety, cataract, macular edema, retinal hemorrhage, retinal thrombosis, allergic reaction, and acne.

Clomiphene Citrate is required to be kept away from direct sunlight, pets, children, unauthorized usage, heat, and moisture. The right storage condition for this wonder drug is a controlled room temperature of 59-86°F (15-30°C) in a closed container.

Novel findings on early polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and childhood obesity in young girls were disclosed via five studies presented in press conference on kid’s health in New Orleans during ENDO 2004, the 86th Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society.

The research examined how much body-shaping drugs and anabolic steroids are used by the young community. It was also disclosed that while girls are more likely to use body-shaping and athletic-enhancing drugs (BSD), non-athlete teens and boys are more likely to make use of anabolic steroids.

From News-Medical.Net:

According to the findings, high school students — both athletes and non- athletes — use anabolic steroids and body shaping drugs on a regular basis. Male athletes and non-athletes appear to be the most common users of anabolic steroids; while females are more likely to use body shaping drugs, such as amphetamines, methamphetamines, pseudoephedrine and diet pills. Additionally, students with a higher grade-point average tend to use less drugs. Compared with non-athletes, student athletes were also less likely to use steroids, alcohol, cocaine, cigarettes, pseudoephedrine and diet pills.

“Our findings indicate an increase in anabolic steroid use among high school non-athletes, which may be one of the reasons for the national increase in steroid use among teens,” explained Dr. Goldberg. “Also, while high school females use less alcohol and other drugs, they use more body-shaping and athletic-enhancing drugs than their male counterparts.” Since drug use in Oregon mirrors the national rates, Dr. Goldberg notes that these findings could mean that athletic and body shaping substances could be used by nearly two million high school students.

Dr. Linn Goldberg and researchers at Oregon Health and Sciences University analyzed the results from 2,036 females, while in another study they looked at results from 4,100 students.

Better results in terms of survival rate can be expected by physicians and patients when it comes to treating multiple myeloma with a combination of lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone therapy and not with a combination of lenalidomide plus high-dose dexamethasone.

The finding was reported by S. Vincent Rajkumar, M.D. at the American Society of Hematology’s annual meeting while revealing results of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Phase III clinical trial E4A03, for multiple myeloma.

From News-Medical.Net:

The study compared combination treatment of oral medications lenalidomide (a novel chemotherapeutic agent) and either high- or low-dose dexamethasone (a potent steroid effective against myeloma) in 445 patients with newly diagnosed myeloma. Lenalidomide plus high-dose dexamethasone had an 18-month survival rate of 80 percent. The comparative therapy using low-dose dexamethasone showed a significantly higher 91 percent overall survival rate at 18 months, with much less toxicity.

“The lower survival rates with the high-dose dexamethasone can be attributed to disease progression as well as treatment-related toxicities,” says Dr. Rajkumar. “This is a major advance in the treatment of this cancer, and also gives researchers a new direction to explore — that more is not necessarily better.”

Dr. Rajkumar, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center hematologist and lead investigator of the study, remarked that it was astonishing to know that high steroid doses can actually increase side effects and reduce survival rate.

Steroid tablets are not effective when they are recommended for reducing the symptoms of virus-induced wheezing in pre-school children.

Researchers from the universities of Nottingham, Leicester and Bart’s in London have been at the centre of a leading study for examining if steroids can be used for relieving wheezing symptoms in children under the age of five.

The finding was revealed during a new research involving medical experts at The University of Nottingham.

From News-Medical.Net:

Dr Alan Smyth said: “There may be some children – for example those with a family history of asthma – who benefit. However, young children who wheeze when they have a viral infection, do not seem to be helped by steroids.”

Dr Monica Lakhanpaul added: “A number of treatments are used in children without strong evidence. This study demonstrates the need for further research in children not only to help us to find out treatments that work but also those that do not work which will then open the way to new research. It is sometimes difficult to recruit children to research studies but this study has been strongly supported by the families and children in the East Midlands and will help us to move another step closer to helping those children who suffer from wheeze.”

Dr Mike Thomas, Chief Medical Advisor for Asthma UK, welcomed the study, which he said could have important implications for the medical community.

This research was carried out by Dr Alan Smyth, Associate Professor and Reader in Child Health, and Terence Stephenson, Professor of Child Health, at The University of Nottingham in collaboration with Dr Monica Lakhanpaul, Senior Lecturer from the University of Leicester and Consultant Paediatrician in Children’s Community Health Service for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and Professor Jonathan Grigg of Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

When it comes to asthma management, Albuterol sulfate is one of the most trusted and recommended names. It is used as a rescue inhaler for reducing cardiovascular side effects and also used by sportsmen for enhancing performance. Read on!

Albuterol sulfate or Albuterol can be best described as a selective beta-2 adrenergic agonist, which resembles Clenbuterol in action and structure.

In the world of professional sports including bodybuilding, Albuterol sulfate is an exceptional fat burning product besides promoting performance and physical appearance.

The fact that this miracle drug is effective for reducing appetite and increasing basal metabolic rate besides increasing lypolysis and stimulating fat cells means that it can be of more than just a single benefit for sportsmen. In addition to that, the use of Albuterol can also lead to dramatically improving athletic performance and facilitating anabolism.

Recommended Dose

The recommended dose of Albuterol in tablet form is 4-8 mg per day for a maximum period of 2-3 weeks at a stretch followed by a cooling period of 2-3 weeks and then restarting the use. This drug is not meant for pregnant or nursing women and is also not recommended for individuals with diabetes, coronary insufficiency, abnormal heartbeat, and hypertension.

Albuterol is required to be stored at a controlled room temperature of 15°-25°C (59°-77°F).

Albuterol Abuse

When abused or of a low grade quality, Albuterol sulfate use can lead to possible side effects such as dry mouth, dizziness, nervousness, tremor, and sweating.

Triamcinolone, the corticosteroid, can be used to provide considerable relief to patients suffering from proliferative diabetic retinopathy. When injected directly into the eye, it can slow down progression of the disease.

The study was published in the December 2009 issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology and was conducted by researchers led by specialists at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute.

From News-Medical.Net:

According to Bressler, lead author of the study, there was some evidence that steroids could improve vision outcomes from diabetic macular edema (DME), swelling of the center of the retina, the part of the retina used for reading or driving. Study results showed that steroids were not superior to laser treatments for DME.

“The primary objective of the study was to determine if steroids were superior to laser for DME, and if so, to balance that superiority with steroids‘ side effects. A secondary objective was to determine if the steroids affected the progression of diabetic retinopathy,” adds Bressler. “Steroid treatments did reduce the risk of progression of diabetic retinopathy, but, not DME, which can also cause vision loss from proliferative diabetic retinopathy, bleeding in the middle cavity of the eye or scarring of the retina, which can detach the retina from the back wall of the eye.”

Neil M. Bressler, the James P. Gills Professor of Ophthalmology and chief of the Retina Division of the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, chair of the government-sponsored Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network, remarked that steroid-based treatment though effective cannot be routinely recommended due to the safety issues.

Jared Lovett, the South African boxer, was recently banned for using Stanozolol, a steroid.

The boxer, who recently lost on points to Thomas Oosthuizen during the IBO Light Heavyweight Youth Belt, has been asked to serve a ban of two years that will last until July 2011.

From Sportsillustrated.CNN.com:

Lovett tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol on July 11 after his loss on points to Thomas Oosthuizen in a bout for the IBO Light Heavyweight Youth Belt.

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport held a hearing on the case last month and announced Lovett’s two-year ban on Thursday.

The ban lasts until July 2011.

The 23-year-old Lovett, nicknamed “The Storm”, told South African newspaper The Sowetan on Friday that he will take the punishment “on the chin.”

This revelation of one more sportsmen getting caught into the web of steroids and reaffirming the relationship between steroids and sports has once again disappointed and saddened sport fans.

Clomiphene Citrate, also known as Clomid, is an exceptional drug when it comes to post-steroid bodybuilding and ovulation. Read on!

Clomiphene Citrate or Clomid is a popular and effective anti-estrogen that inhibits the formation of estrogens at the end of a steroid cycle that included harsh steroids. It is also useful for optimizing the benefits of anabolic steroids and restoring the level of testosterone after a cycle. Moreover, Clomid use does not result in any side effect.

One of the biggest reasons why this drug is so popular in the world of sports is that it significantly reduces the risk of gynecomastia during a steroid cycle.

The active ingredient of Clomid is Clomiphene citrate USP and the list of inactive ingredients includes pregelatinized cornstarch, sucrose, lactose, magnesium stearate, and corn starch.

Available in oral form, Clomiphene Citrate is useful for stimulating the production of luteinizing hormone and testosterone, the sex hormone, in the body. The recommended dose of Clomiphene Citrate is 50 mg/day for a period of 5 days and then a cooling period of 5 days.

When Clomiphene Citrate is abused or of a low grade quality, it can result in side effects such as macular edema, retinal hemorrhage, retinal thrombosis, cataract, erythema, erythema multiforme, acne, and anxiety.

Clomiphene Citrate is required to be kept at a controlled 59-86°F (15-30°C) in a closed container and must be kept at a distance away from direct sunlight, pets, children, unauthorized usage, heat, and moisture.

In the world of performance enhancing drugs, AndroGel is one name that is trusted by all for its unique ability to offer continuous delivery of testosterone to the body over a period of one day after application. Read on!

AndroGel, the transdermal gel, contains one percent of testosterone by weight and is potent enough to ensure continuous supply of testosterone (the male sex hormone) to the body over a period of one day after being applied by the user.

This FDA-approved gel is indicated by medical practitioners for treating males suffering from absence or lack of endogenous testosterone. The gel holds the same potential as any injectable version of a testosterone derivative and is admired for promoting significant gains in terms of muscle strength and muscle mass. In addition to that, AndroGel is also useful for promoting a sense of well being and sexual arousal.

Recommended Dose

AndroGel, the gel, needs to be applied once a day to clean and dry skin on body parts such as shoulders, abdominal area, and upper arms. The recommended dose of AndroGel for men is 5-10 g/day for individuals suffering from deficiency of testosterone. For bodybuilding purposes, the recommended dose of AndroGel for men is 20-40 g/day. It is worth noting here that males should avoid direct contact with women immediately after application of this gel as this can lead to transfer of hormones.

For female sportsmen, the recommended dosage of AndroGel is 5.0-7.5g/day. However, this application must be preceded by a qualified medical consultation.

We hope that this information on AndroGel, the continuous provider of testosterone supply, was useful to you in gaining a clear insight.