The manufacturer of Viagra has invested several million dollars to date in the technology, which discourages counterfeiting because it is both difficult and expensive to duplicate. This step has been taken for providing authentic product to pharmacists and patients. By using this technology, the company is creating additional barriers for criminals who might attempt to counterfeit the products.

Therefore diet pills such as phentermine, Adipex and Xenical can help in preventing the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease by controlling obesity. Diet pills can be of immense use in fighting obesity and obesity linked conditions like diabetes and heart disease which may also increase Alzheimer’s risk. The study also suggests that it’s the fat itself and not the diseases that excess weight can cause which may be increasing levels of the dangerous protein.

The diet pill Alli manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is a non-prescription version of the company’s weight loss drug Xenical, which blocks fat absorption. The company plans to promote the diet pill as part of a lifestyle change accompanied by information on diet and exercise. Once these drugs get approval, they’ll join the league of phentermine, one of the most effective diet pill.

For consumers who prefer online prescription sales rather than driving to the corner pharmacist, a little research can minimize the risks of online drug purchases. There are online prescription companies in the U.S. that choose to practice locally or regionally. The key is finding one that can be trusted to deliver quickly and safely. These sites usually require patients to speak with an appointed physician for a consultation, and also require their patients to submit their medical history for reviewing.

But unfortunately in today’s time, ever-fatter French children have prompted a series of warnings by ministers and campaigns by health pressure groups. France, which prides itself on healthy eating habits, remains far behind the United States and Britain in the global obesity tables. In the United States, 40 percent of people are considered clinically obese, compared to 30 percent in Britain and 11.3 percent in France. However, the percentage of obese French adults has nearly doubled in the past 20 years.

Obesity can be fought quite effortlessly with the usage of diet pills such as phentermine, Adipex and Xenical as they can provide quick relief for obese people across the world within a short span of time.chantixha

ACOMPLIA(R) is the first in a new class of drugs that targetcardiometabolic risk factors such as abdominal obesity, ins…

Indiana (MediaPR – NewsWire) November 01, 2006 – — Sanofi-aventis Ireland Ltd. announced today, that ACOMPLIA(R) (rimonabant20mg/day), is available from today, 1st November 2006.

ACOMPLIA(R) is the first in a new class of drugs that targetcardiometabolic risk factors such as abdominal obesity, insulin resistance,cholesterol and elevated triglycerides(i). It is licensed for use as anadjunct to diet and exercise for the treatment of obese patients (BMI greaterthan or equal to 30kg/m2), or overweight patients (BMI >27kg/m2) withassociated risk factors, such as type 2 diabetes or dyslipidaemia(1).

Ireland is the third country in the world to have launchedACOMPLIA(R) and the treatment has been welcomed by physicians across thecountry.

“Rimonabant (Acomplia) addresses the multiple cardiometabolicrisk factors that put patients at risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2diabetes” said Dr. Seamus Sreenan, Consultant Endocrinologist, ConnollyHospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. He continued “ACOMPLIA(R) is animportant advancement which will offer benefits beyond current treatments forindividual risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes andI applaud the foresight of early access to this valuable medicine forpatients in Ireland”.

Obesity is typically measured by Body Mass Index (BMI – weightin kg divided by height in metres squared) but recent findings have shownthat abdominal obesity, commonly referred to as ‘fat around the middle’ is amuch better determinant of cardiometabolic risk i.e. the risk of developingcardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes(2,3).

Recent results from the IDEA study (International Day for theEvaluation of Abdominal Obesity), a 63 country study including Ireland,confirmed that the Irish population are at high cardiometabolic risk with44.1% of Irish women and 32.0% of Irish men considered to have a high waistcircumference according to the NCEP ATP III Guidelines (>88cm /> 35 inchesfor a woman and >102 cm or >40 inches for a man).(4,5,6)

In fact, over a quarter of Irish men (25.9%) and a fifth ofIrish women (22.9%) can be classified as clinically obese (BMI greater thanor equal to 30 kg/m2)(4).

Dr. Sreenan stressed “Acomplia is an innovative medicine butit is not a lifestyle drug therapy and those likely to gain most benefit willbe patients presenting with a high waist circumference, who also havediabetes and/or dyslipidemia”.

The approval of ACOMPLIA(R) was based on comprehensiveefficacy and safety data, including data from the RIO clinical trialprogramme which involved more than 6,600 patients worldwide, of which over 4,500 were studied for up to two years.

Results from the RIO programme demonstrated that oneACOMPLIA(R) 20 mg tablet taken every day significantly decreased weight andwaist circumference, HbA1c, and triglycerides and increased HDL-cholesterollevels – the ‘good cholesterol. Importantly the license granted states thatan estimated 50% of the observed improvements in HbA1c, HDL-cholesterol andtriglycerides were beyond that expected from weight loss alone.(1)

Last week saw the Lancet published the RIO-Diabetes Study results, whichshowed that Rimonabant (Acomplia) significantly improved weight, blood sugarlevels and other cardiometabolic Risk Factors in People with Type 2Diabetes(12) .

i) More about Cardiometabolic Disease

Global cardiometabolic risk represents the overall risk ofdeveloping type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease and is due to acluster of modifiable risk factors. Cardiometabolic risk factors includeclassical risk factors such as high LDL-cholesterol levels, hypertension andhyperglycaemia and emerging risk factors closely related to abdominal obesity(especially intra-abdominal adiposity), such as insulin resistance, lowHDL-cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, and inflammatory markers such asadiponectin and CRP (C-reactive protein)(7).

More about ACOMPLIA(R)

ACOMPLIA(R) works by selectively blocking CB1 receptors foundin the brain and in peripheral organs important in glucose and lipid (or fat)metabolism, including adipose tissue, the liver, gastrointestinal tract andmuscle(8) . CB1 receptor blockade with ACOMPLIA(R) acts to decrease theoveractivity of the endocannabinoid system (EC system)(9,10) . The EC system isa recently characterised physiological system that includes receptors such asthe CB1 receptor, and it is believed to play an important role in regulatingbody weight and in controlling energy balance, as well as glucose and lipidmetabolism(11).

Safety and Tolerability

ACOMPLIA(R) 20mg has been evaluated for safety in over 6,300patients. In placebo controlled studies the discontinuation rate due toadverse reactions was 15.7% for patients receiving ACOMPLIA(R). The mostcommon adverse events resulting in discontinuation were nausea, moodalteration with depressive disorders, anxiety and dizziness.(1)

ACOMPLIA(R) should not be initiated in patients with hepaticor renal impairment or patients with uncontrolled serious psychiatricillnesses such as major depression1

About sanofi-aventis

Sanofi-aventis is the world’s third largest pharmaceuticalcompany, ranking number one in Europe. Backed by a world-class R&Dorganisation, sanofi-aventis is developing leading positions in seven majortherapeutic areas: cardiovascular, thrombosis, oncology, metabolic diseases,central nervous system, internal medicine and vaccines. Sanofi-aventis islisted in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

1. Acomplia Summary of Product Characteristics

2. Yusuf S, Hawken S, Ôunpuu S, Dans T, Avezum A, Lanas F et al., Effectof potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarctionin 52 countries (the INTERHEART study): case control study. The Lancet. 2004;364: 937-952.

3. Castro JP, El-Atat FA, McFarlane SI, Aneja A, Sowers JR.Cardiometabolic Syndrome: Pathophysiology And Treatment. Curr Hypertens Rep.2003; 5: 393-401.

4 Data on File. The IDEA study 2005

5. NCEP ATP III Guidelines

6. Haffner S on behalf of the IDEA Executive Committee. Waistcircumference and Body Mass Index are both independently associated withcardiovascular disease. The International Day for the Evaluation of AbdominalObesity (IDEA) survey. Abstract presentation at American College ofCardiology’s 55th Annual Scientific Session. 2006. vol 47 (4 s uppl 1):358A,ABS 542-6 http://www.theheart.org/article/681953,doc

7. Results of Rio-Diabetes. Data on File

8.Pagotto U. Fighting obesity and associated risk factors by antagonisingcannabinoid type receptors. Lancet. 2005 Apr 16-22;365(9468):1363-64.

9. Van Gaal et al. Effects of the cannabinoid-1 receptor blockerrimonabant on weight reduction and cardiovascular risk factors in overweightpatients: 1-year experience from the RIO-Europe study.Lancet.2005Apr16-22;365(9468):1389-97.

10. Di Marzo V, et al. Leptin-regulated endocannabinoids are involved inmaintaining food intake. Nature. 2001;410:822-825.

11.Di Marzo V / Matias I. Endocannabinoid control of food intake andenergy balance. Nat Neurosci. 2005 May;8(5):585-9. Review

12. Scheen et al. Effect and tolerability of rimonabant in overweight orobese patients with type 2 diabetes : a randomised controlled study.

The products – Zimaxx, Actra-Rx, 4Everon, Vigor-25 and Nasutra – could pose serious health risks, especially for people with heart disease, those taking heart medications or those at risk for stroke.

Although not authorized for sale in Canada, Zimaxx, Actra-Rx, 4Everon, Vigor-25 and Nasutra are or may have been sold over the Internet or brought into Canada by travellers for personal use, Health Canada said in an advisory Thursday.

Zimaxx is adulterated with sildenafil, the active pharmaceutical ingredient found in the prescription drug Viagra. Actra-Rx, 4Everon and Nasutra contain modified forms of sildenafil. Vigor-25 is contaminated with a modified form of vardenafil, the active in the prescription drug Levitra.

Use of any of the products could cause serious side-effects, including sudden vision loss, increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, penile tissue damage, permanent loss of potency and urinary tract infections. Other less serious side-effects may include indigestion, headaches, flushing and dizziness.

“The use of these products can also produce a specific type of vision loss called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in people over the age of 50 years and in those with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking or those with a blood vessel problem in the eye that can lead to stroke,” said Health Canada. “This condition can be irreversible.”

Products containing sildenafil or vardenafil should not be used by anyone taking a nitrate medication because the combination could lead to potentially life-threatening low blood pressure.

To date, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of any of these products has been reported.

A previous Health Canada warning was issued for Nasutra in May because the product was found to contain sildenafil. Nasutra has since been found to contain a modified form of the drug.

Consumers taking any of these five products should stop their use immediately and consult a doctor if they have concerns about their health, the federal agency advised.

The study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, used pregnancy rates in vitro fertilization, or IVF treatment, to reach the conclusion.

Women with non-smoking partners, who were being implanted with eggs donated by non-smokers, were divided into two groups: heavy smokers, and non-smokers or those who smoked fewer than 10 cigarettes per day.

Lead researcher Dr. Sergio Soares, of Lisbon’s IVI Clinic, was quoted by Britain’s Daily Mail tabloid as saying: “The non-heavy smokers had a significantly higher pregnancy rate, with over half becoming pregnant, compared with just over a third of the heavy smokers. Heavy smokers have a much lower chance of achieving pregnancy.

“In spite of all the noise generated about the effects of smoking in a series of health areas, its possible effect on uterine receptiveness has never been evaluated until now.

“Our study is just the first step on this path, and certainly not the last, but it means that we should now be telling patients, if they are heavy smokers, that even if fertilization takes place they have less chance of achieving a successful pregnancy.”

Drinking sugary drinks increases your chances of contracting pancreatic cancer, new research has found.

A team of Swedish scientists monitored 80,000 men and women between 1997 and 2005. Of the 80,000, 131 contracted pancreatic cancer.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that drinking two sugary drinks — carbonated sodas, or tea and coffee with added sugar — a day doubled the pancreatic cancer risk.

The risk was 70 percent higher for those who drank five sugary drinks a day.

The Karolinska Institute’s Susanna Larsson, who worked on the study, said: “Despite the fact that the chances of developing pancreatic cancer are relatively small, it’s important to learn more about the risk factors behind the disease.

“It is perhaps the most serious form of cancer, with very poor prognosis for its victims.

“Since it’s difficult to treat and is often discovered too late, it’s particularly important that we learn to prevent it.”

According to new research conducted by Cancer Research U.K., both smoking from a young age and early exposure to secondhand smoke increase the risk of bladder cancer in later life.

The study, whose findings were published in the International Journal of Cancer, looked at 429,906 people across Europe, and found that those who had started smoking under the age of 15 were three times more likely to contract bladder cancer than non-smokers. Those who had been exposed to secondhand smoke throughout their childhoods had a 40 percent increased risk of bladder cancer.

Smokers who first picked up the habit between 15 and 19 years of age were 1.5 times more likely to develop bladder cancer than those who had never smoked.

“The indication in our study is that early exposure to tobacco smoke might increase the risk of bladder cancer calls for further research and adds to the body of evidence suggesting that children are more sensitive to carcinogens than adults,” the authors wrote.

Oxford University’s Dr. Naomi Allen, who worked on the study, was quoted by the BBC as saying: “Previous research has shown that there’s a strong link between smoking and bladder cancer. But this study also suggests that young people who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more at risk of going on to develop the disease in later life.

“This adds to the growing body of evidence that children and adolescents may be even more vulnerable to the harmful effects of tobacco smoke than adults.”

British researchers have developed a computer program that will help people — and their doctors — manage pain.

The program, which can be operated using a personal digital assistant, or PDA, enables patients to map out the location and type of pain they feel throughout the day on a 3D model of the body, giving their doctors a clearer picture of the changing nature of their condition throughout the day.

A patient’s pain record can be called up by their doctor at any time.

Fifteen members of west London’s Hillingdon Independent Wheelchair Users’ Group have been trialing the program for the past two years.

Using a three-dimensional, rotating image of the human body, patients can zoom in to the precise spot where they feel pain, and use color-coding to identify it as burning, aching, stabbing, pins and needles or numbness.

Dr. George Ghinea, a senior lecturer at the United Kingdom’s Brunel University who worked on the study, told the BBC: “We hope this provides a much more realistic view of the whole body for the patients, who say they find it much more natural to use. Also, because it uses a PDA, patients can collate the information while they are at home, and they don’t have to come into the doctor’s surgery.

“Our research identified that a more accurate method for pain visualization was needed in order for patients to describe and record the pain that they were experiencing, and for physicians to track and better understand patient pain ‘journeys.’”

But though men may not think about their biological clocks, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports, they should.

“There are some men whose biological clocks tick a lot faster and a lot louder than others,” says Dr. Harry Fisch, the man who wrote the book about that clock – and what happens when the timing is off.

“A lot of people think as they get older that there is erectile dysfunction. But there’s more than just that,” Fisch says. “There’s excessive weight gain, tiredness.”

One of the factors determining the pace of the ticking is testosterone.

“Testosterone is the major male hormone,” says Dr. Peter Schlegel of Weill-Cornell Medical College in New York.

That hormone helps regulate mood, sex drive, fertility and muscle mass. And over time, it drops – at the rate of about one percent per year after age 40.

After age 60, roughly 20 percent of men are testosterone-deficient.

“One of the problems that occurs as men get older is they convert more testosterone to female hormones or estrogens,” Schlegel says.

That’s right. The structure of testosterone is remarkably similar to the structure of estrogen. With just one enzyme, the body can convert this male hormone into a female hormone – and body fat speeds up the process. So a bigger belly may mean lower testosterone.

But it isn’t always that easy to spot.

Jeff Volk came to Schlegel with all of the symptoms of a man in a midlife crisis.

“I was lethargic and depressed,” he says.

Sure enough, Volk didn’t need a Porsche. A blood test revealed he needed more testosterone. He’s been on hormone-replacement therapy for five years.

“It’s increased the quality of my life,” Volk says.

But testosterone is a powerful hormone that has many side effects and should be taken only under a doctor’s supervision.

“We have not followed people for long enough to know testosterone replacement is completely safe, but it certainly appears to help with your cardiovascular health, with how you feel, with your bone density and a number of other factors, like how you think,” Schlegel says.

So what’s a guy to do to keep his testosterone levels normal, naturally?

“The obvious answer is that size really does matter – that is, the size of the belly,” Fisch said. “The easiest thing you can do to keep your biological clock from ticking too fast is losing the weight around the belly.”

Since we started the free distribution of sexual stimulants, our elderly population changed. They’re much happier,” said Joao de Souza Luz, the mayor of Novo Santo Antonio, a small town in the central state of Mato Grosso.

Souza Luz said 68 men over the age of 60 had already signed up for the program, which was approved by the town’s legislature and has been dubbed “Happy Penis,” or “Pinto Alegre” in Portuguese.

But the program has also had the unforeseen consequence of encouraging some extra-marital affairs, Souza Luz said.

“Some of the old men aren’t seeking out their wives. They’ve got romances on the side,” he said.

To discourage such illicit canoodling, Souza Luz said the city had decided to begin distributing the Viagra pills to the wives of the men who signed up for the program.