Laser therapy combo effectively clears acne, reduces oil production (2)

As it penetrates, ALA binds to the oil glands and sensitizes the cells to light.

The researchers treated 14 patients with ALA PDT, who received one to six treatments depending on the severity of their acne and continued to use topical medications during and after the study.

The control group consisted of four patients who were either treated with conventional therapy (such as systemic or topical medications) or with laser energy but without ALA PDT.

After the analysis, Alexiades-Armenakas found that all (100 %) of the 14 patients in the ALA PDT treatment group experienced complete clearance of their acne.

She reported that an average of 2.9 ALA PDT treatments was administered to this patient group and improvement in the acne lesions was visible within one to two weeks after the first treatment.

She said: "The first-of-a-kind study found this particular form of photodynamic therapy used in conjunction with topical therapy to be the first such treatment to achieve complete clearance of acne up to 13 months post treatment and a 77 % clearance rate per treatment. Four subsequent studies conducted by other investigators involving an additional 75 patients demonstrated similar results.

"Patients also experienced an added benefit of significant improvement in their acne scars, as the pulsed dye laser offers superior penetration to the deeper layers of the skin where scars form."
Side effects were limited to mild redness that lasted for 48 hours, and the treatment was found to be safe even for patients of colour with no complications, such as hyperpigmentation.

For patients with intermittent acne flares and pronounced oily skin with large pores, ALA PDT treatment with a 1450nm diode laser that heats the deep layer of skin where the oil glands are located has been shown to help these patients in as little as one to three treatments. -The Times of India

Laser therapy combo effectively clears acne, reduces oil production (1)

Good morning friends. They say that our face is the first thing to see if we were looked by many. Have your children trying to talk with you about his problem with his/her pimples. Some don’t mind any, but some are very conscious of it. You can tell them now that they should not worry anymore. There’s a good way for you to have an acne free.

A combination of laser therapy has been found to safely and effectively treat one of the most common skin conditions that plagues teenagers and adults alike-acne.

Dermatologist Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, MD, PhD, FAAD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., demonstrated how photodynamic therapy combined with a long-pulse, pulsed-dye laser and topical 5-aminolevulinic acid provides long-lasting clearance of acne lesions.

"Laser technology has made great inroads in the treatment of acne, which until recently has been treated almost exclusively - and with varying degrees of success - with topical, systemic and hormonal medications," said Alexiades-Armenakas.

She added: "Now, we have solid evidence-based medicine supporting the effectiveness of certain laser therapies as a long-term solution for treating active acne. The key is to distinguish the benefits and limitations of these available technologies and select the most effective treatments for each acne patient."

In a preliminary study, Alexiades-Armenakas examined whether a combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with a photosensitizer known as topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and activated by long-pulse, pulsed dye laser could safely and effectively clear mild to severe cases of acne.

PDT works by using laser or light energy - in this case a pulsed dye laser was used - to activate the ALA, which is a solution that penetrates into the oil glands and is applied to the skin one hour prior to treatment. -The Times of India

Have a sand blast

To develop explosive leg muscles and improve you endurance, supplement your cross-training with each running. The soft surface makes your muscles work harder with east stip. And you know you can’t beat the scenery for motivation. But running on a soft, slanted beach can strain muscles and tendons if you don’t do it right says Joseph Ellis, D.P.M, author of Running Injury-Free. He suggests starting out gradually: run a few miles on the flattest, firmest sand you can find, he says. Stay away from slopes, but if there’s a slight one, change your running direction frequently to avoid stressing either side of your body. As you get used to each running, try alternating running on hard sand one day and soft sand the next. But if you start to feel any stain in your heels, arches, ankles, knees or shins, stay on the firm sand, and always wear your running shoes, which will better support your feet. – Mitchel Gray

Energy drinks are ‘the dangerous coffee of new generation

Some teenage people specially men, drink a lot of energy drink to make them on the go for the whole day. but this is not advisable to do. There are also harmful results in drinking this energy drinks.

An increasing number of students are consuming energy drinks to boost their concentration as they study throughout the night, so much so, that such beverages have become coffee of the new generation. "Energy drinks are the coffee of a new generation. These drinks are made up of sugar and caffeine and can have a negative impact on health."

A 2008 report by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has revealed that 1.5 billion cans of Red Bull were sold in the United States in 2004, with a similar level of consumption reported in Canada and it is a growing trend for 18-to 24-year-olds. The market segment is broadening as younger children are beginning to consume these drinks before doing physical activity.

"Energy drinks don’t hydrate the body efficiently, because they have too much sugar. And caffeine doesn’t necessarily improve physical performance. In high quantities it can increase the risks of fatigue and dehydration."

Many studies have demonstrated that strong doses of caffeine can increase hypertension, cause heart palpitations, provoke irritability and anxiety as well as cause headaches and insomnia. Close to 50 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds claim to consume energy drinks mixed with alcohol. Vodka Red Bulls are in vogue despite warnings against the mix.

"Usually when someone consumes too much alcohol, their head spins and they feel tired. Energy drinks cancel out these warning signs. The person feels good and therefore keeps drinking without realizing they are drunk."

Reference: indianexpress

New therapy 'can reverse Alzheimer's memory loss

Good morning friends. There is this new therapy that can reverse Alzheimer’s memory loss. This is a tough sickness which usually’s the target are older people. Everyone has the mentality that when you got this kind of disease, you will never be cured.

Scientists have developed a new therapy which they claim can prevent and even reverse memory loss in Alzheimer's patients.

It could repair some of the damage caused by the disease by treating patients with a naturally occurring protein in the body, called brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

"The effects of BDNF were potent. When we administered BDNF to memory circuits in the brain, we directly stimulated their activity and prevented cell death from the disease.

"We have shown that BDNF targets the cells themselves, preventing their death, stimulating their function, improving learning and memory. BDNF treatment can potentially provide long-lasting protection by slowing, or even stopping disease progression in the cortical regions that receive treatment." The scientist found BDNF treatment can slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer's in the animals.

And, compared to animals not treated with the protein they had significant improvement in their memory and learning skills.

It seems to show that another protein, BDNF, may protect and restore memory. This research offers insight into the way in which Alzheimer's progresses and alternative avenues of research."

Reference: indianexpress

Red wine prevents heart disease

Good morning friends. Many of you out there loves to drink wine. Some don’t make their day not drinking any. For those who were not aware, Red wine now has a good use in our body.

A study claims to have discovered a process inside the human body which gives those fond of this drink a valid reason to say cheers! "It has often been observed that the French do not develop heart disease despite bad eating habits. The consumption of red wine contains a chemical compound resveratrol which is beneficial for the heart and has anti-cancer properties."

"It has been baffling for scientists that under laboratory conditions, resveratrol is required in much higher amounts to show effects similar to what is observed under normal conditions".

"For example, the amount of resveratrol ingested through a glass of wine or a serving of red grapes, another important source of the compound, has not been sufficient to elicit health benefits in studies conducted under laboratory conditions."

"The key to this phenomenon may be found in an enzymatic system present in the red blood cells, known as Plasma Membrane Redox System (PMRS). The resveratrol that is ingested into the body through any source, donates electrons to the PMRS which is present in the red blood cells. These electrons are used by the PMRS to maintain the levels of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) in the plasma."
"Vitamin C is essential to regenerate Vitamin E which plays a very important role in preventing atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which in turn gives rise to several diseases related to the heart."

"This phenomenon offers a possible explanation to the health-promoting effects of resveratrol, even when consumed in moderate concentrations. With this, people may also be rest assured that for health benefits, they need not consume large amounts of resveratrol-rich food like red wine, red grapes or pomegranate."

The rate of red blood cell PMRS increases during human aging. "It appears that the increase in PMRS activity is a defense mechanism of the human body to cope with increased oxidative stress during aging. Thus any compound which displays PMRS activating effect has a potential anti-aging effect."

Reference: indianexpress

Women's heart rate helps detect health risks

Measuring a woman's heart rate at rest can help predict her risk of heart attack or dying from heart disease, giving doctors a simple, inexpensive way to monitor health risks. Postmenopausal women who had the highest resting heart rate were 26 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack or die from cardiovascular disease than those with the lowest rates.

Previous studies have linked resting heart rate to such problems in men but the relationship has been less certain for women, in part because trials did not include enough women to get a statistically significant result.

Heart disease is the world's leading cause of death. It is caused by fatty deposits that harden and block arteries, high blood pressure which damages blood vessels, and other factors.

Resting heart rate measures beats per minute after sitting still to gauge how well the heart works when not stressed. Women with resting heart rates of more than 76 beats per minute were found to be 26 per cent more likely to have a heart attack or die from heart disease than those with heart rates of 62 beats per minute or lower.

"People have to put in perspective that it is not as much as smoking but it is still a clinically meaningful amount."

Researchers compensated for factors known to increase heart attack and disease risk such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and drinking, and monitored the women for an average of nearly eight years.

Although resting heart rate is usually lower among people who are physically fit. The measurement could help predict heart attack risk for women regardless of how much they exercise. Researchers said they found no correlation between resting heart rate and stroke.

Reference: Indian Express