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“Pharmacists are becoming interested in providing and advocating for more direct services to women, but don’t feel they have sufficient skills or are empowered enough,” said Sharon Cohen Landau, director of Pharmacy Access Partnership. By: Mari Edlin

As their ever-growing role in healthcare causes pharmacists to concentrate more on medication management and patient consulting, some are specializing in healthcare issues and needs specific to women.

In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made Plan B, an emergency contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy after intercourse, available over the counter to consumers 18 and older, and in April 2009 a subsequent bill decreased that age to 17. These decisions have spurred some pharmacists to learn more about women’s health.

Impetus for an expanded role for pharmacists also stems from the medication therapy management (MTM) mandate in Medicare Part D and from initiatives by employers such as the City of Asheville, North Carolina, and Pitney Bowes; both entities have put pharmacists front and center in successful value-based benefit designs that combine lower drug copayments with pharmacist-directed disease management.

In September 2009, the Pacific Institute for Women’s Health and Pharmacy Access Partnership launched the nation’s first leadership training program designed to help pharmacists become stronger champions of women’s health. Titled Pharmacy Forward, the year-long program invited nine fellows from eight states to learn about hormonal contraception, testing for and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, cervical cancer screening, and youth access to reproductive services.

Kathy Besinque, associate professor of clinical pharmacy, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy in Los Angeles, and a Partnership mentor, believes that emergency contraception has opened the door for pharmacists to become more involved in women’s issues, including menopause management, osteoporosis, hormone therapy, and use of contraceptives. Her curriculum includes an elective course on women’s health.

“Unfortunately, the media have created the perception that many pharmacists are not interested in involving themselves in women’s issues, which is just not true,” she said, adding that pharmacists are not always reimbursed for these extra services.

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Scientists at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have found that abnormal genes that repair mistakes in DNA replication may act as an indicator of the risk of pancreatic cancer. The knowledge of the role of variant DNA repair genes in the development and prognosis of pancreatic cancer would provide the researchers with more insight into their functional significance.

1 risk factor for pancreatitis itself and indirectly affeting the risk of developing pancreatic cancer is alcohol intake. There is clinical evidence to prove that alcohol induced pancreatitis is positively correlated with a higher risk of developing pacreatic cancer. Alcohol intake is also associted with liver cirhosis which has been implicated in the development of pancreatic cancer. Family history of genetic syndromes that can increase cancer risk, including a BRCA2 gene mutation, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Lynch syndrome and familial atypical mole-malignant melanoma (FAMMM). (continue reading…)

“People with fibromyalgia tend to have very disturbed sleep,” says Doris Cope, MD, director of Pain Management at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “Even if they sleep 10 hours a night, they still feel fatigued, don’t feel rested.”

Research shows that with fibromyalgia, there is an automatic arousal in the brain during sleep. Frequent disruptions prevent the important restorative processes from occurring. Growth hormone is mostly produced during sleep. Without restorative sleep and the surge of growth hormone, muscles don’t heal and neurotransmitters (like the mood chemical serotonin) are not replenished. The lack of a good night’s sleep makes people with fibromyalgia wake up feeling tired and fatigued.

The result: The body can’t recuperate from the day’s stresses — all of which overwhelms the system, creating a great sensitivity to pain. Widespread pain, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and memory difficulties are all symptoms of fibromyalgia. (continue reading…)

Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are the 3 major nutrients, which help you to stay energetic. Carbohydrates are obtained from plants and they help to fuel your muscles as well as mind. It is therefore indispensable to consume carbohydrate-rich foods. Carbohydrates are however both complete and bad for you. You need to take 45 to 65% of your calories from carbohydrates only. This can help to meet your daily nutritional requirements. If you do not take sufficient carbohydrates, you may be more prone to the risk of chronic diseases.
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Four-year-old Michael likes to play and discuss in his South Tampa home. He has got a twin brother named Christopher.
The 2 were born just mins apart.

Their mom and dad say when the 2 boys turned one years old they noticed something else about Michael. Carmen Inclan claims “He’d be in the playroom in the corner by himself just laying on the floor and rolling a train back and forth.” Inclan announces right before Michael turned 2 years old he was assessed with autism. It is a brain development disorder that harms social interaction and communication. His folks investigated everything and listened to what was working for other oldsters of autistic children. Inclan claims “we were trying different cures, different vitamins, and different additions and eating different foods that would help.” One of the therapies they wished to try was the hyperbaric chamber.

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