FDA Approved Shampoo based Ivermectin for Head Lice Treatment

Head lice infest about 6 to 12 million children of 3 to 11 years of age annually, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Image via Wikipedia; Head Louse

Head lice are contacted by direct spread usually from community centers and schools. Apart from itching, in severe cases may cause anemia.

There are several medications available for treatment by local application. Some of them are very toxic like gamma benzene hexachloride (Gamaxane) liquid.
Now, FDA has approved shampoo based ivermectin for treatment of head lice in patients above six months of age.
Less than 1% of patients experience adverse effects like conjunctivitis, eye irritation, dandruff, dry skin, or skin-burning sensation, according to the prescribing information.
Ivermectin is in use for gut worm diseases and also for filariasis etc..

Related articles

• FDA Approves No-Comb Treatment for Head Lice (children.webmd.com)

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Two Rare but Major Adverse Effects of Bone Resorption Preventing Drug

Bisphosphonates like alendronate and zolendronic acid are in frequent use for thinned bone disease called osteoporosis/osteopenia. They prevent the action of cells in the bone responsible for bone resorption, the osteoclasts.
Generally, the drugs are well tolerated; but, two adverse effects are very much disturbing. Those can be;

• Osteonecrosis of Jaw.

• Atypical fracture of thigh bone, the femur.

To prevent the osteonecrosis of jaw bone the advice is to stop bisphosphonates long before any dental procedure. The best thing to see the absolute indication to prescribe the drugs. It should be prescribed to patients having T-Score in BMD (Bone Mineral Density) test less than -2.00 SD.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) 10% to 25% below peak adult bone mass (Average 30 years old), or a T-score between –1.0 and –2.5 standard deviations below normal can be called as osteopenia.
Patients having T-Score more than -2.00 SD (Standard Deviation) can be managed without bisphosphonates. In principle alternative therapies like exercise, lifestyle modification from more sedentary to active lifestyle, vitamin D and calcium supplementation etc. can be offered to those.
The incidence of atypical femur fracture (atypical because the fractures  are more or less transverse and occur at a bony prominence) can be one in one thousand patients from Bisphosphonates use. The can be stopped after five years of use. And after stopping the drug after first atypical femur fracture, second fracture usually can be prevented.

Related articles

• Halting bone-building osteoporosis drug use cuts risk for additional atypical femur fracture in half (eurekalert.org)

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Melatonin and Risk of Developing Diabetes Mellitus

Melatonin is a hormone secreted from pineal gland located in the under surface of brain. Its’ secretion is influenced by light and dark; dark inducing its release.

Image via Wikipedia; Endocrine System

In addition to inducing sleep, it also acts on different organs of body and influence their functions too. So it regulates the “biological clock” responsible for sleep/wake pattern.

It has been seen that people engaged in night shift duty are prone to develop type II diabetes (DM Type II) mellitus, obesity and heart disease.
As reported in ScienceDaily (Jan. 29, 2012), it has been found that mutation in certain melatonin receptor proteins may be responsible for development of DM Type II.
The release of insulin, which regulates blood sugar level, is known to be regulated by melatonin to some extent. Also, it has a role in regulating hormones from adrenal gland; glucocorticoids and adrenaline; those have role in regulating blood sugar.
The researchers suggest that mutations in the MT2 gene may disrupt the link between the body clock and insulin release, leading to abnormal control of blood sugar.

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How to store Insulin During Normal Situations and Disasters

According to the American Diabetes Association insulin can be properly stored and used as under;

• Insulin typically is stored in the refrigerator at approximately 35 to 46 degrees F, but it may be more painful when injected this way. Insulin stored at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F can still maintain potency for up to 28 days.
• Insulin is not to be kept in extremely hot or extremely cold temperatures.
• It is not to be kept in the car, in direct sunlight or in the freezer.
• Before use bottle's expiration date is to be checked, and insulin that's expired need to be discarded.
• The insulin should look as it should, if otherwise, it need not be used.
• Insulin that has formed any crystals or clumps should be discarded.

After a disaster, patients in the affected area may not have access to refrigeration. According to the product labels from all three U.S. insulin manufacturers, it is recommended that insulin be stored in a refrigerator at approximately 35 to 46 degrees

• Unopened and stored in this manner, these products maintain potency until the expiration date on the package.  However, all of the available insulin products may be left unrefrigerated (between 59 and 86 degrees F) for up to 28 days and still maintain potency.
• During disasters the guidelines above can be easily followed, Sometimes one may be compelled to use insulin kept above 86 degrees F, that may not control glucose level as desired.

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Exercise Enhances Self-eating of Malformed Proteins and other Cellular Components to Show the host of Its Benefits

As reported in The Economist, exercise induces muscles of body to clear malformed proteins and other cellular components.

A paper published in Nature by Beth Levine of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre and her colleagues sheds some light on the matter.
They were testing a theory to show that exercise, at least in part, helps to prevent a host of diseases by promoting autophagy.
This process, whose name is derived from the Greek for “self-eating”, is a mechanism by which surplus, worn-out or malformed proteins and other cellular components are broken up for scrap and recycled. Full story can be read here

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