Health Research: Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis symptoms curbed by bariatric surgery♦ Leading cause of blindness could be prevented or delayed ♦ Molecular clocks control mutation rate in human cells

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis symptoms curbed by bariatric surgery Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis symptoms were significantly lessened in patients who underwent bariatric -- or weight loss -- surgery, according to researchers. According to the study's authors, the findings suggest that losing excess weight may improve symptoms in people who have these lifelong condition

Deaths from heart disease declining among rheumatoid arthritis patients Rheumatoid arthritis patients are twice as likely as the average person to develop heart disease, but a new study shows that efforts to prevent heart problems and diagnose and treat heart disease early may be paying off

Leading cause of blindness could be prevented or delayed In a major scientific breakthrough, a drug used to treat Parkinson's and related diseases may be able to delay or prevent macular degeneration, the most common form of blindness among older Americans.

Molecular clocks control mutation rate in human cells A theory that our cells have molecular clock processes ticking inside them, that damage DNA by generating mutations continuously throughout life, has just been proven.These clock-like mutational processes could ultimately be responsible for a large proportion of human cancer and contribute to human aging. Two clock-like mutational processes have been found in human cells and the rates at which the two clocks tick in different human cell types have been determined.

Health News: Salmonella outbreak linked to fig & olive ♦ Exercise in a bottle could become a reality ♦ Psoriasis, risk of depression in the US population

CDC, Salmonella outbreak linked to fig & olive Multiple cities are investigating Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to eating at Fig & Olive restaurants, the U.S. CDC says. Illnesses have so far been reported Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and the investigation is ongoing to determine whether there are illnesses in other states

Exercise in a bottle could become a reality Research finds around 1000 molecular reactions to exercise, opening the door for drug treatments to mirror the health benefits of exercise.

Experimental cancer drug shows therapeutic promise in mouse models of multiple sclerosis An experimental drug originally identified in a National Cancer Institute library of chemical compounds as a potential therapy for brain and basal cell cancers improves the symptoms of mice with a form of the debilitating neurological disorder multiple sclerosis.

Psoriasis, risk of depression in the US population The chronic inflammatory skin condition psoriasis was associated with the risk of major depression, although the risk was unrelated to the severity of the disorder, according to a new article

Training for patients with melanoma and their partners on skin examinations Training on skin self-examination to aid early detection could be extra beneficial for patients with melanoma and their partners who report having low relationship quality because it gives them activities to do together, according to a new article.

Health Research: New psoriasis drug is more effective ♦ Phthalates risky to human health ♦ Lack of education as deadly as smoking

New psoriasis drug is more effective than current treatment A phase II clinical trial shows that a new psoriasis drug called guselkumab has greater efficacy than the current standard of care for the chronic skin condition. Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that causes itchy, dry and red skin. It also increases a patient's risk for depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions.

Phthalates: 'Safer' replacements for harmful chemical in plastics may be as risky to human health According to a new series of studies, two chemicals increasingly used during manufacturing to strengthen plastic wrap, soap, cosmetics, and processed food containers have been linked to a rise in risk of high blood pressure and diabetes in children and adolescents.

Why social workers aren't discussing religion, spirituality with clients Licensed clinical social workers, who account for the largest number of clinically trained helping professionals, believe that discussions about their clients' religion and spirituality can often lead to improved health and mental health, but practitioners are not integrating these conversations into their counseling sessions.

Gene therapy restores hearing in deaf mice Using gene therapy, researchers have restored hearing in mice with a genetic form of deafness. More than 70 different genes are known to cause deafness when mutated. The scientists focused on a gene called TMC1 because it is a common cause of genetic deafness, accounting for 4 to 8 percent of cases, and encodes a protein that plays a central role in hearing, helping convert sound into electrical signals that travel to the brain.

Deaths attributed to low levels of education: Lack of education as deadly as smoking A new study estimates the number of deaths that can be linked to differences in education, and finds that variation in the risk of death across education levels has widened considerably

Health News:FDA doesn’t care about mouse poop in your food ♦ All change for bacterial outer membrane proteins ♦ Strong teeth: Nano structures under stress make teeth crack resistant

FDA doesn’t care about mouse poop in your food Many eaters likely want to avoid insect parts, rodent feces or fly eggs in their meal. But according the Food and Drug Administration, that’s just not possible. The agency’s “Defect Level Handbook” provides guidelines for food processors on the levels of “natural or unavoidable defects in foods that present no health hazard for humans.” If you’re thinking of a defect as something

New drug can clear all psoriasis symptoms A new psoriasis drug has resulted in 40 percent of people showing a complete clearance of psoriatic plaques after 12 weeks of treatment and over 90 percent showing improvement.

All change for bacterial outer membrane proteins The discovery of how a group of bacteria rapidly adapts to changing growth conditions could have implications for future antibiotic development, according to research

Europe's most homophobic countries may be paving the way for a rise in HIV cases Europe's most homophobic countries may be paving the way for a rise in HIV cases among gay and bisexual men, according to new research. The investigators found that in these countries, gay men knew less about HIV, were less likely to use condoms and are at greater potential risk of getting HIV when they do have sex.

Strong teeth: Nanostructures under stress make teeth crack resistant Human teeth have to serve for a lifetime, despite being subjected to huge forces. But the high failure resistance of dentin in teeth is not fully understood. An interdisciplinary team of scientists has now analyzed the complex structure of dentin. They could reveal that the mineral particles are precompressed

11/2/14 Health News: Robotically assisted surgery cuts recovery time ♦ Tea, citrus lower ovarian cancer risk ♦ Antisocial behavior a consequence of homelessness ♦ psoriasis cure

Robotically assisted bypass surgery reduces complications after surgery, cuts recovery

Robotically assisted coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is a rapidly evolving technology that shortens hospital stays and reduces the need for blood products, while decreasing recovery times, making the procedure safer and less risky, experts say. Continue Reading

Tea, citrus products could lower ovarian cancer risk, new research finds

Tea and citrus fruits and juices are associated with a lower risk of developing ovarian cancer, according to new research. The research reveals that women who consume foods containing flavonols and flavanones (both subclasses of dietary flavonoids) significantly decrease their risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer, the fifth-leading cause of cancer death among women Continue Reading

Antisocial behavior a consequence, rather than cause of homelessness

Anti-social behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse are often the consequence, rather than the cause of homelessness, according to a series of studies that suggest that contrary to common belief, unexpected life events could lead to anyone becoming homeless. Continue Reading

Lesion-healing mechanism in psoriasis discovered

The underlying genetic factors that help repair skin lesions caused by psoriasis has been discovered by researchers, which could engender new methods of controlling the lingering condition. "Our research suggests that targeting this mechanism of healing may lead to pharmaceutical products that limit the itchy, painful lesions all psoriasis sufferers must endure," the lead researcher said. Continue Reading

Psoriasis Treatments Are Getting More Personalized

The more scientists learn about psoriasis, the more therapeutic options are becoming available for patients with this skin disease.

“As we better understand the disease, researchers know more about what specific factors to target in order to develop effective treatments,” says Melinda L. McCord, M.D., a dermatologist at the Food and Drug Administration.

The treatment for psoriasis has changed from the previous gradual step-by-step approach. Today, doctors seek to optimize treatment from the first visit—whether with phototherapy or systemic therapies—based on the specific needs of each patient.

“Tomorrow’s treatments will become even more personalized because the drugs in development now are targeting different aspects of the immune system,” McCord notes.

Psoriasis is an immune system disorder characterized by inflammation and the rapid overproduction of skin cells, creating scaling, pain, swelling, heat and redness. About 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis, a skin condition that can create significant physical and emotional discomfort.

Therapies for psoriasis include:

• Medicines applied to the skin (topical treatment)
• Light treatment (phototherapy)
• Drugs taken by mouth or injection (systemic therapy)

There is no cure for psoriasis, so the main goals of treatment are to reduce inflammation and to stop the skin cells from growing so quickly.

In the past, doctors treated psoriasis using a “step-wise approach.” Patients with mild to moderate psoriasis would start with topical therapies and, if they did not respond well to that, move on to other treatments, such as systemic therapy or phototherapy. This approach called for treating people with moderate to severe psoriasis with phototherapy or traditional systemic therapies—drugs such as methotrexate and cyclosporine—before offering them biologic therapies (a type of treatment that works with your immune system).

That strategy has changed to a more patient-specific approach. Today, patients and their doctors can choose a treatment based on its effectiveness, the severity of their disease, lifestyle considerations, risk factors, and associated diseases (co-morbidities).

The most recent biologic product approved by the FDA for the treatment of psoriasis is Stelara (ustekinumab). Ustekinumab contains an antibody that’s produced in a laboratory and designed to bind to a specific target in the immune system. “When given to patients, this antibody blocks the action of two proteins (interleukin 12 and 23) that contribute to the inflammation and the overproduction of skin cells. By targeting these proteins, ustekinumab can interrupt the inflammatory pathway,” McCord says.

“Looking forward, the drugs in development are targeting different pathways in the immune system that lead to inflammation. Researchers are exploring the importance of interleukin 17,” McCord says. “They’re also looking at proteins and molecules that can interrupt cellular signaling, which can increase the spreading of the inflammation.”

“As we learn more about the immune pathways that lead to the development of psoriasis, we can target specific molecules for treatment and make more therapeutic options available to patients,” McCord says. “Understanding the disease gives us the opportunity to target specific factors.”

McCord recommends a team approach to treating psoriasis. Patients, families and their health care providers need to work together to address the multiple diseases that may occur in association with psoriasis, including the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (the occurrence of obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes in one patient), lymphoma, heart disease and/or depression. “We do not completely understand the relationship of these co-morbidities to psoriasis, but it is an area of active research,” she adds.

Because psoriasis is a chronic disease with no cure, patients may need to use treatments for a long time. Many therapies approved by FDA have been evaluated for extended time periods.

Psoriasis has environmental and genetic components. It is more common in adults and can run in families. What triggers it? A virus? Bacteria? Stress? Other environmental factors? “We just don’t know,” McCord says.

The good news is that patients can treat some of the signs and symptoms of psoriasis with simple measures. For example, regular use of moisturizers may improve the itching and scaling. Reducing or limiting tobacco use and alcohol consumption may decrease the number of flares of psoriasis. Lifestyle changes—such as maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active—may help lessen or prevent the development of associated diseases.

McCord advises patients to seek treatment early from a doctor experienced with the disease. A dermatologist can provide patients with the correct diagnosis and information to manage the disease. “If you are diagnosed and treated early, you may avoid the pitfalls of ineffective and inappropriate therapy,” she adds.

Some patients become easily discouraged about treatments, but newer therapies may make them more comfortable. That’s why McCord says patients should investigate treatment options early and educate themselves about their condition. Even if patients have a mild case of psoriasis and decide they don’t want a particular treatment option, there are ways they can decrease their symptoms.

“Psoriasis has a great emotional impact on some patients. But it doesn't have to, given the right care and treatment,” she says.