Journée mondiale du diabète pour une meilleure prévention

Ce jeudi 14 novembre, c'est la journée mondiale du diabète. L'occasion de faire le point sur cette maladie qui touche plus de 350 millions de personnes dans le monde.

Ce jeudi 14 novembre célèbre la 22e Journée mondiale du diabète. Un événement qui entend sensibiliser l'opinion publique aux effets de cette maladie qui touche actuellement 371 millions de personnes dans le monde, selon l'Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) et plus de 600.000 personnes (dont 250.000 ignoraient en être atteintes) en Belgique. 

L'OMS estime que d'ici 2030, le diabète, qui se caractérise par une augmentation du taux de glucose dans le sang, sera la septième cause de décès dans le monde. Cette maladie est donc l'un des défis majeurs de santé et de développement du 21ème siècle.


Diabète: "protégeons notre futur"

Cette journée mondiale, créée en 1991 par l'OMS et la Fédération Internationale du Diabète (FID), a pour but de sensibiliser aux risques liés à cette maladie. Elle est célébrée par plus de 200 associations dans 160 pays dont l'Association Belge du Diabète (ABD). La campagne 2013 marque la dernière année de la campagne 2009 - 2013 consacrée à l'Education et à la Prévention du Diabète. 

Le slogan de cette année est "Diabète: protégeons notre futur" et s'articule autour de quatre messages-clés : 

1. Les pays les plus peuplés au monde : 1.Chine 2.Inde 3.DIABETE 4.Etats-Unis 5.Brésil
2. 1 personne sur 2 atteintes de diabète ne le sait pas : êtes-vous à risque ?
3. Diabète : attention aux complications
4. Les personnes atteintes de diabète sont comme vous et moi : non à la discrimination

Le diabète et ses complications sont en grande partie évitables, c'est pourquoi la FID que l'ABD militent pour la mise en place de stratégies efficaces de prévention et de contrôle de la maladie afin de préserver la santé des citoyens atteints de diabète ou à risque de devenir diabétique. 

Si le diabète de type 1 (insulino-dépendant), déclenché par des facteurs environnementaux, ne peut être prévenu, il est par contre possible d'éviter le diabète de type 2 (non insulino-dépendant) grâce à l'exercice d'une activité physique et en luttant contre l'obésité. L'éducation des patients a un rôle prépondérant, puisque ceux-ci doivent prendre en charge 95% de leurs soins.

Actuellement, plus de 350 millions de personnes sont atteintes de diabète de type 1 et la moitié des personnes atteintes ne sont pas conscientes de leur condition. 280 millions courent un risque élevé de développer la maladie. 

Même si les traitements ne permettent pas encore de guérir le diabète, les médications disponibles permettent toutefois de le contrôler correctement et d'en éviter la plupart des complications. Le traitement du diabète demande une participation active de la personne, laquelle est l'acteur principal de son traitement. Pour cela, il est essentiel que la personne diabétique reçoive une information ainsi qu'une éducation à la santé adaptée à ses besoins et encadrée par des professionnels de santé compétents.

Une journée de sensibilisation et d'action partout en Belgique 


De nombreuses manifestations auront lieu dans le cadre de cette journée parmi lesquelles des séances de sensibilisation, ainsi qu'une vaste campagne d'illuminations de monuments symboliques en bleu - la couleur de la Journée mondiale du Diabète. 

La campagne encourage également chacun à faire "Un pas" pour le diabète et à faire un don symbolique de pas lors de différentes activités. "Un pas" correspond à toute activité qui contribue à promouvoir la sensibilisation au diabète, à améliorer la vie des personnes atteintes de diabète, encourager un mode de vie sain ou réduire le risque individuel de développer la maladie. 

Différents événements seront également organisés dans les différents centres hospitaliers. C'est notamment le cas aujourd'hui au Centre hospitalier de Tubize-Nivelles, à la clinique Saint-Jean à Bruxelles ou encore à la clinique Saint-Luc à Bouge.

esterified estrogens and methyltestosterone, Estratest, Estratest HS

Notice: Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced on March 10, 2009, that it would discontinue supplying the marketplace with ESTRATEST® (Esterified Estrogens and Methyltestosterone) Tablets and ESTRATEST® HS (Esterified Estrogens and Methyltestosterone) Tablets. Effective March 31, 2009, the company will no longer accept orders for new product from its customers.

GENERIC NAME: esterified estrogens and methyltestosterone

BRAND NAME: Estratest

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Esterified estrogens are a mixture of related estrogens. Estrogens, when taken alone or in combination with a progestin, have been shown to reduce the risk for hip fracture due toosteoporosis by 25% as well as the risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction) and stroke by 40-50%. Esterified estrogens are used for numerous medical situations. Estrogens cause growth and development of female sex organs and the maintain sex characteristics, including growth of underarm and pubic hair and shaping of body contours and skeleton. Estrogens also increase secretions from the cervix and growth of the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium). Estrogens reduce LDL-cholesterol ("bad"cholesterol) and increase HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) concentrations.

Testosterone is the major male sex hormone that is responsible for many male sexual characteristics, but women also produce small amounts of testosterone. Following menopause, a woman's production of testosterone decreases. When testosterone in the form of methyltestosterone is added to estrogens, there may be a further alleviation of the hot flashes seen aftermenopause, and there also may be an improvement in a woman's sexual function.

GENERIC AVAILABLE: no

PRESCRIPTION: yes

PREPARATIONS: Estratest tablets: esterified estrogens 0.625mg plus methyltestosterone 1.25mg; esterified estrogens 1.25mg plus methyltestosterone 2.5mg. Estratest HS is one-half the strength of Estratest.

STORAGE: Tablets should be stored at 36-86°F (20-30°C).

PRESCRIBED FOR: Estratest is prescribed for the treatment of the common symptoms associated with menopause (e.g., hot flashes, vaginal dryness).

DOSING: Estratest usually is prescribed as 1 or 2 tablets daily for 21 consecutive days followed by 7 days without medication.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: For drug interactions for esterified estrogens, please read the esterified estrogens article.

Methyltestosterone can increase the effects of warfarin (Coumadin), increasing the risk of bleeding. Taking methyltestosterone and imipramine(Tofranil) together has led to paranoia in a few patients. Methyltestosterone can increase blood concentrations of cyclosporine (Sandimmune; Neoral), which can increase the risk of kidney damage.

PREGNANCY: Both methyltestosterone and estrogens should not be used during pregnancy due to an increased risk of fetal abnormalities.

NURSING MOTHERS: Estrogens are secreted in milk and cause unpredictable effects in the infant. They should not be used during breast-feeding.

SIDE EFFECTS: For side effects, please read the esterified estrogensarticle.

Methyltestosterone can have masculinizing effects in women, the development of acne, growth of facial hair, enlargement of the clitoris, reduction in breast size, and deepening of the voice. If treatment is discontinued when these symptoms first appear, they usually diminish or disappear; however, prolonged treatment can cause irreversible masculinizing effects.

Reference: FDA Prescribing Information

أسرار صداع الشقيقة الاسباب العلاج النهائي الطبيعي الغذاء الميزان

كيف تفسر الصداع الذي يرافقه شعور بالتقيؤ؟ 

الجواب هذا على الأغلب هو صداع الشقيقة , وبنبذة بسيطة عن صداع الشقيقة نستطيع أن نقول أن صداع الشقيقة هو نوع من أنواع التحسس وذلك لارتباطه بما يعرف باسم البنية الحرضية التحسسية عند الإنسان , فقد وجد أن الناس الذين عندهم هذه البنية الحرضية التحسسية يصابون بخمسة أمراض هي الإكزيما والأرتكاريا وحمى القش ( حساسية الأنف والعيون ) والربو والشقيقة , وقد لاحظ العلماء أن واحدا من هذه الأمراض إذا ظهر عند فرد من العائلة فعلى الأغلب أن يكون هناك شخص آخر في نفس العائلة يعاني من مرض آخر في هذه المجموعة , يتميز صداع الشقيقة بحدوث انطلاق بعض المواد الكيميائية التي يعتقد أنها تنطلق بسبب التحسس الذي يشتد في فترة تحول الطقس مثل قدوم الربيع أو قدوم الخريف أو حتى تناول بعض الأطعمة أو الاضطراب الهرموني كما يحدث قبل الدورة الشهرية عند النساء , هذه المواد تسبب توسعا في الأوعية الدموية ثم تضيقا ثم توسعا , ولذلك فالشقيقة تعرف باسم الصداع الوعائي لأنه يحدث عملية التهابية في الأوعية الدموية , ويتميز ألمها بأن ينبض مثل النبض تماما وليس شرطا أن يكون صداع الشقيقة في نصف الرأس فقد يكون في الرأس كله , وقد يكون نصفيا بين اليمين واليسار أو الأعلى والأسفل أو الأمام والخلف من الرأس ولعل أهم ما يميز صداع الشقيقة ما يعرف باسم النسمة , فتضيق الأوعية في منطقة دماغية معينة سيؤثر على هذه المنطقة وعلى وظيفتها مما يجعل المريض قادرا على التنبؤ ببدء حدوث الصداع وذلك بسبب تاثر المنطقة الدماغية التي تبدأ بها هجمة تضيق الأوعية , حيث قد يشم رائحة غريبة إذا كان تضيق الأوعية في منطقة الشم , أو يسمع صوت طنين أو تشويش إذا كان التشنج في منطقة السمع أو يصاب بتشوش في الرؤية إذا كان تضيق الأوعية في منطقة البصر أو شعور غريب حسب المنطقة التي يتضيق فيها الوعاء , ومن أعراض الشقيقة المميزة وجود أعراض الإقياء المترافقة معها إذا عادة ما يكون الإقياء مخففا لهجمة صداع الشقيقة وبعض الناس التي تكون لديهم أعراض الشقيقة شديدة جدا يتعمدون الإقياء بوضع أصبعهم في حلقهم حتى يخفف ذلك عنهم , ونقول لهم كان الله في عونكم , ونستخدم بنجاح باهر ومذهل وبتوفيق من الله مجموعة الصداع عندنا والتي تغطي كل آلية من آليات صداع الشقيقة المعروفة وكل مادة كيميائية تنطلق تؤثر على الأوعية الدموية وتسبب تقبضها أو توسعها فنحن هنا نريد أن نصيب الداء كما أخبر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " فإذا أصيب دواء الداء برأ بإذن الله " رواه مسلم ومجموعتنا للتخلص من صداع الشقيقة تشمل زيت وخل إكليل الجبل والخزامى والزنجبيل والميرمية والبابونج شربا ودهنا , حيث يلاحظ المريض الذي يستخدم المنتجات أن الهجمات تصبح أقل عددا وأقصر مدة وأقل كثافة إلى أن نصل إلى مرحلة بعد 4 أو 5 شهور تختفي الهجمات نهائية , وقد لاحظنا أيضا أن استخدام خليط الزيوت لخلاصات الأعشاب السابقة , واستخدامه دهنا في منطقة الجبهة ومن ثم إلى كل الراس عند بداية الصداع , يؤدي إلى إحباط الهجمة وزوالها بشكل نهائي دون استخدام أدوية أو حقن مثل حقن الفولترين أو البروفين او غيرها ويمكن الحصول على منتجاتنا من موزعينا الموجودين في كافة أنحاء العالم بإذن الله

Surviving Mesothelioma Testimonials

"Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient's Guide" is written by mesothelioma survivor Paul Kraus. It is the best-selling mesothelioma book in the world. Here's a small sampling of some of the unsolicited testimonials we have received from patients and their loved ones.

"As a four-year pleural mesothelioma survivor, I have found Paul's book to be an inspiring and educational guide to dealing and living with this cancer. I have had his book for three years and have read it through several times, with many references to various chapters over those years. I have gained so much from it and I am reading it again. I believe many of the approaches he has used (many of which I have adopted in lifestyle changes) are responsible for my continued survival after four years. Paul and his book have given me hope that the disease will not defeat me, and he has provided the tools to help me heal. My most grateful thanks to Paul and Sue Kraus, and to Cancer Monthly...Cancer Monthly is another wonderful resource to such as myself and I am so grateful for the various services it provides. From the wide variety of support and information Cancer Monthly offers, it is obvious there are many dedicated, caring people on board. You are truly helping those of us cope with one of life's larger challenges. I thank profusely everyone who cares about us and is working hard on many different levels to improve life for cancer patients and survivors. My best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Kraus for continued healing, and to Cancer Monthly as you continue in your mission on behalf of all of us."

Heartfelt Mesothelioma Testimonials

"A unique, inspirational book by a fellow sufferer and dedicated Author and Educator. Written from the heart and with understanding there are guidelines to help enhance your body's own immune system. Through knowledge we gain power! This gives us strength to strive to achieve our best possible outcome."

"My father was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in June. I gave him the book and it really gave him hope. Because the book is written by another mesothelioma patient it really made a difference for him. Thank you for sharing your inspirational story!"

"Thank you Paul for writing your wonderful book of hope. With all the awful stuff on the internet about this disease, your book is like a ray of sunshine. I also want to thank Cancer Monthly for sending the additional materials about treatments, doctors, clinical trials, and mesothelioma lawyers. It helped me make better decisions."

"Cancer Monthly has been a wonderful resource in our search for information on what is available and where to find the best possible answers. Now that I finished reading Paul Kraus' book I have a good understanding of what you are really all about. The world needs more people like you and I feel privileged for your time."

"Thanks for the information. It was also a pleasure speaking with you. I hope you realize what a special thing you are doing. You have a lot to be proud of…As I said earlier, it's funny my 31 years of experience in surgery mean nothing dealing with this now, but my conversation with you did. Thanks again."

"Please pass on our heartfelt thanks to the Kraus' for the time they gave to all! Thanks so much for all the hard work that went into this. I'm sure many, many folks benefited immensely from what was heard. What a service you have provided to all of us hungry for help! God bless you!"

"I feel so much more hopeful every time I hear about survivors and especially them doing so with immune boosting therapies and other non traditional methods. Thank You so very much!"

For Mesothelioma Staging PET/CT Tops PET/MRI

Standard PET/CT beats PET/MRI for diagnosing and staging pleural tumors such as mesothelioma. That is the conclusion reached by a team of radiology researchers in Zurich who evaluated  the two imaging modalities side-by-side for a variety of different cancers, including mesothelioma. 

Positron emission tomography is a nuclear imaging technique that produces 3D images of functional or metabolic processes in the body. Patients are given a radioactive tracer (usually FDG, a molecule similar to glucose) and the PET machine detects concentrations of the tracer in body tissues. Because FDG is an analog of glucose, it will concentrate where metabolic activity is highest, often in cancer cells. The combination of PET with computed tomography, an X-ray imaging study that produces tomographic images or ‘slices’ of specific areas, is the most common combination used to diagnose and stage malignant mesothelioma. 

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is another type of nuclear imaging. It uses a powerful magnet to produce images of the nuclei of atoms in the body.  It can produce both 2D and 3D images without using ionizing radiation and is considered good at showing contrast between the different soft tissues in the body.

But when 63 patients with mesothelioma or another cancer underwent a single sequence of MRI using a technique called a body coil followed immediately by PET/CT, the standard imaging combination came out on top. The researchers measured the maximum diameters of the lesions shown on CT and MRI images. They then measured overall differences in the detectability and conspicuity [how obvious the lesion appeared] in PET/CT and PET/MRI and examined differences in detectability based on the location and type of lesion being examined.

Among the total of 126 PET-positive lesions, there was “no statistically significant superiority of PET/CT over PET/MRI or vice versa in terms of lesion conspicuity”. However, when the researchers looked specifically at lesions found in the lung area, such as mesothelioma, PET/CT was found to be significantly better than PET/MRI. They also found PET/CT to be better at detecting cancer in the lymph nodes, a key method by which mesothelioma and other cancers spread. 

Writing on their finding in Insight into Imaging, the Swiss doctors concluded that PET/MRI “does not match entirely the diagnostic accuracy of standard low-dose PET/CT” for mesothelioma and lung cancers. They suggest, however, that it might be used as a backup solution in some patients, as long as more time was spent to obtain the highest quality MRI images. 

Sources: 

Appenzeller, P, et al, “PET/CT versus body boil PET/MRI: how low can you go?”, may 15, 2013, Epub ahead of print. 

Breast cancer - Sex and Intimacy

Sex and Intimacy

Many women find that breast cancer diagnosis and treatment seriously disrupt their sexual lives. First there are the most obvious issues—the physical changes, exhaustion, nausea and pain from treatment, self-image, empty energy reserves, and the emotional chaos from the diagnosis itself. But there are also many other issues that women and their partners may not even know they'll have to face.

Yet retaining intimacy in your relationship both during and after your breast cancer ordeal is critical to your overall recovery. Andsingle women who want to become part of a relationship worry how breast cancer will affect their prospects, about how and when to tell those prospective lovers about their condition.

Adapted in part from Living Beyond Breast Cancer by Marisa Weiss, M.D. and Ellen Weiss

Federal breast cancer screening campaign

The federal government will launch a multimillion-dollar campaign to encourage older women to undergo breast cancer screening.

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek was in Sydney on Mother's Day to announce an extra $55.7 million in Tuesday's budget to expand the screening target group to include women aged 70 to 74.

Currently only women aged 50 to 69 get a mammogram reminder from BreastScreen Australia.

The new funding means another 70,000 women every year will get the letter.

The government hopes this will lead to the early detection and treatment of 600 extra breast cancer cases a year from 2016 onwards.

"Many people go without being reminded but I've got to say I'm one of those people who relies on the letter turning up in the mail for the other registers we have," Ms Plibersek told reporters on Sunday.

"This investment in expanding the target age range, picking up - we hope - an extra 600 cancers every year (when) they're more treatable, we hope that will save lives."

Cancer Australia CEO Helen Zorbas said the BreastScreen Australia program had already reduced breast cancer mortality by 25 per cent since its introduction.

"Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Australia and with the ageing of the population more and more women are being diagnosed every year," she said.

"The strongest risk factor for breast cancer is getting older. So this announcement of increasing the target age range for women who participate in breast cancer screening from 69 to 74 is really welcome."

Ms Plibersek also announced $10,000 in government funding for the National Breast Cancer Foundation at the Mother's Day Classic, a nationwide fun run and the foundation's biggest single fundraiser.

This year organisers say more than 130,000 people across the country are walking or running as part of the event, which is on track to beat the previous fundraising record of $4 million.

High-profile participants include Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch, Governor-General Quentin Bryce and celebrity pasty chef Adriano Zumbo.