MS causes the immune system to attack the body’s own nerve cells as “foreign,” producing vision changes and muscle weakness. MS may progress steadily, or acute attacks may be followed by a temporary remission of symptoms.

As many as half of people with MS continue to have attacks that are not completely controlled by interferon beta-1B, the prescription drug commonly used to treat severe disease, according to Dr. Douglas Jeffery of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They can also develop new signs of MS in the brain, abnormalities that show up on MRI scans.

For these patients, Jeffery and associates decided to try adding a second drug called mitoxantrone to the treatment regimen. Used originally to treat cancer, mitoxantrone was approved as an MS treatment in the fall of 2000.

So far seven patients have been treated, Jeffery said in his presentation Thursday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Before they received mitoxantrone, the patients were averaging three new nerve abnormalities, or lesions, caused by MS each month, Jeffery reported. But since starting the two-drug treatment, only one patient has developed new lesions seen by the MRI scan.

“The results showed that new active lesions were reduced by 60% and relapses were cut in half on the combination,” Jeffery told Reuters Health.

Combining mitoxantrone and interferon did not seem to increase the number of side effects. In fact, the researchers reported, “no infections or other serious adverse events have occurred.”

“The results of the trial provide a promising treatment for those patients with rapidly progressive forms of MS,” Jeffery concluded.

Researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor implanted genes that stimulate bone growth in sponge-like devices, which were then inserted into fractured bones in dogs to help speed the healing process, according to a study in the July issue of Nature Medicine.

Between 2 to 6 weeks after implantation, there was an increase in new bone formation at the injury site, the investigators report.

In 1995, there were 300,000 hip fractures among people with the brittle bone disease osteoporosis. The new study results “provide a rational basis for a therapeutic trial in which (gene-carrying sponges) are used to treat bone fractures in elderly human patients with osteoporosis,” concludes lead researcher Doctor, now of Selective Genetics Inc. in San Diego, California.

Such a study may begin as early as next year, he notes.

To arrive at their findings, Bonadio and colleagues placed a gene for parathyroid hormone that encourages bone growth and repair in a cell structure called a plasmid, which can reproduce and carry genetic instructions. The plasmid was then implanted in a sponge-like material. Next, they inserted the gene-carrying sponge into the broken tibia (lower leg bone) or femur (thighbone) of dogs and measured the bone density via x-rays. They found that the implant encouraged bone growth and repair and there was an increase in new bone formation at the fracture sites.

While other vehicles for gene delivery have been experimented with, plasmids are safer and cheaper, the researchers note.

In an editorial accompanying the new study, Douglas Lauffenburger, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, and a colleague from the University of California at Berkeley write that the new findings “auger considerable promise for combining gene therapy and tissue engineering methodologies to enhance tissue regeneration.”

“These important findings need to be followed by continuing and broader studies, including a more quantitative assessment of the factors that govern the success of such implants,” they note.

A.Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease typically affecting the small intestine and/or colon. Symptoms include diarrhea, bleeding from the rectum, weight loss and abdominal pain. Often the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease is made when the patient is referred for a colonoscopy after his or her doctor has suspected this disease on the basis of the symptoms mentioned. The colonoscopic appearance of colitis (whether due to Crohn’s or another cause) may include evidence of swelling and inflammation of the colon lining, as well as scarring and bleeding. In severe cases, deep ulcers may be seen.

A. After the diagnosis is made and therapy for colitis is begun, there may be instances when a colonoscopy may need to be repeated. For example, if the patient is doing well on medications and then has a flare-up of Crohn’s disease, a colonoscopy (or more often, a sigmoidoscopy) may be done to rule out an infection. At other times, a colonoscopy is done to evaluate the full extent of the colitis to better plan the therapy.

This is especially true if the initial colonoscopy was not complete, as often happens if the disease was especially active when the exam was done. Finally, when patients have had colitis for more than eight to 10 years, regular colonoscopies are recommended at every year or two to screen for colon cancer. Patients with longstanding colitis are at higher risk for colon cancer, and this risk increases with the duration of disease.

Although many internal medicine doctors perform sigmoidoscopy (which examines the rectum and left side of the colon), most are not trained to perform full colonoscopy. This exam is more complex, requires IV sedation and is technically more difficult. Gastroenterologists have specific training in all endoscopic procedures and perform colonoscopies routinely. In addition, they are trained to recognize the endoscopic appearance of the various colonic diseases and can make important diagnostic and therapeutic decisions based on these findings.

On the basis of these effects, has often been described as a phytoestrogen, a plant-based substance that produces effects similar to those of estrogen. However, a double-blind study that evaluated two different dosages of black cohosh did not find any estrogen-like effects in the uterus or vagina.1 An animal study also failed to find any evidence that black cohosh works like estrogen.2

If it doesn’t act like estrogen, how does work? Although the answer isn’t clear, recent evidence suggests that  might function similarly to estrogen in some tissues but not others.3,4,5 However, more investigation is necessary to clear up this confusing issue.

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The Fioricet dose is flexible according to the patient’s medical ailment. During the complete course of treatment, a doctor will consistently look at the person’s progress and the basic response to taking the medicine. One adverse effect that Fioricet has is sleepiness. In a number of cases, the Fioricet dosage is reduced by physicians because many of their patients complain about sleepiness during the day. You can learn everything about Fioricet when you visit your physician. You will be asked to take it upon the first sign of tension headache symptoms.

Exceptional prudence is the norm for prescribing Fioricet, and medical experts recommend that this drug not be used in high dosage nor for extended periods. It may result in addiction as well as extreme withdrawal symptoms if the remedy is halted abruptly. Request your physician to steadily decrease the dosage to help you best avoid withdrawal syndromes. When you search for information about Fioricet being addictive, you will surely find out that this medicine shouldn’t be used in greater doses or more times that advised.

When you undergo Fioricet treatment, periodic checkups are essential. Let your physician know if you have been taking more than the prescribed dosage and if your headaches worsen or occur more frequently. Acetaminophen can cause permanent liver impairment and even death upon ingestion of excessive dosage. Something important to remember is that acetaminophen overdose commonly takes two days to show up. The condition must be treated right away, as it is acutely critical. Two symptoms to watch for in the beginning are yellow skin and being severely nauseous.

Prior to using the medication, it is in your best interest to let your doctor know if you have an alcohol addiction or if you have had respiratory disease. Also, any bouts of liver disease or depression should be mentioned.

It is not known what the effects Fioricet would have on an unborn infant. If you are pregnant, you should avoid the drug until you have a discussion with your physician. It is possible for Fioricet to seep into breast milk which can result in harmful effects to a baby undergoing breast-feeding.

For the remedy of light to middling pain, Fioricet has established itself as an effective drug. As with all drugs, make sure you visit a doctor before you take Fioricet on a regular basis.

First, you must know how to read the label on over-the-counter medicines to be absolutely sure you are making safe choices. It’s hard to believe, but few people devote the time necessary to read and fully understand all the information provided on the label of a non-prescription drug. Normally the label information appears in a standardized format that is similar on each medication. Following is a guide to help you understand the meaning of each piece of information.

How to Read the Label When Choosing a Safe Over-the-Counter Medication:

Active Ingredient — The first ingredient listed on the label of the medication is the active ingredient; this is the element that will relieve the symptoms. Normally the active ingredient is listed as well as the quantity contained in each pill or capsule. There may be a few active ingredients in some over-the-counter medications. Prior to taking the medication, it is vital to ensure that you are not at all allergic to the active ingredient. Check with your pharmacist if you have any questions regarding how the active ingredient works.

Uses — Normally this is the second piece of information that appears on the label of an over-the-counter medication. Each condition that the medication treats is normally listed on the label. This will tell you if the medication is appropriate for dealing with your symptoms. If your symptoms do not appear in this section, do not take the over-the-counter medication in an attempt to treat yourself.

Warnings — You should always pay attention to this section. It informs you as to what foods or other drugs to avoid when using this particular treatment. For instance, Tylenol labels always caution users not to take it if they consume more than three glasses of alcohol per day. They also have directions on how safe it is to take the medication if you might be pregnant or want to give it to your child. Prior to taking any over-the-counter drugs, it is always wise to consult with your physician or pharmacist if you take prescription medications. Don’t mix two or more over-the counter medications unless you speak to physician first.

Directions — In this area you will find instructions on the amount to take and how often to take it. One should never ingest a dosage that is higher than that suggested. If they are not used correctly, even over-the-counter medications can cause serious side effects. There is a separate listing of dosages for children if children are allowed to take the medication. Children younger than age twelve should never be given an adult dosage of a drug.

Inactive Ingredients — This is a listing of the ingredients contained in the medication that do not provide active relief for particular symptoms. Preservatives, food dyes, and fillers would be included. If you are allergic to any foods or medications, be sure to peruse this section carefully to ensure that it does not contain an ingredient that will be problematic for you.

Other Tips — It is important to check the date of expiration. Circle the expiration date right away on any over-the-counter medication you buy so you will know when to get rid of it. Whenever you have an adverse reaction to an over-the-counter medication, make note of its name and the active and inactive ingredients so that you can refer to it in the future. Provide your physician and pharmacist with this information and keep your own record of it as well.

You will be able to more easily select safe no prescription medications for yourself and your family once you learn to read drug labels. The fine print is important and must be read.