Friday, August 3, 2012

UK becoming nation of 'happy pill poppers' fears | Gloveman ...

The UK is in the grip of a ?happy pill boom? according to the Daily Mail, with ?almost 50 million? antidepressants prescribed in 2011.

The reports are based on figures released today for prescriptions dispensed by GPs, pharmacists and other health professionals in the community during 2011.

It shows that antidepressants such as Prozac and Seroxat account for the largest annual rise in prescriptions from 2010 to 2011. Just under 46.7 million prescriptions for antidepressants were dispensed in 2011, a rise of 3.9 million on 2010.

Some newspapers raise concerns that this rise may be the results of GPs looking for a ?quick fix? for mood disorders such as depression and OCD, when ?talking therapy? treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may be a more appropriate treatment. But this represents an editorial opinion rather any interpretation of evidence provided in the report.

The report found that while prescription numbers overall are rising? the total cost to the NHS is falling. Probably because more drugs are now ?out of patent? and are being prescribed in cheaper generic forms.

What data are the stories based on?

The stories are based on a new report, Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community: England, Statistics for 2001 to 2011 (PDF, 663kb).

The report is a summary of prescriptions for drugs, dressings and medical appliances dispensed in England by doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and other health professionals (the majority of prescriptions are written by GPs). It has information on the number of prescription items for different therapeutic areas (for example, diabetes, heart failure or ADHD), the number of prescriptions for individual drugs, and their cost.

Who released the data?

The report was released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), which was previously known as the NHS Information Centre. Its role is to collect and analyse data on health and social care to help the NHS and social services run more effectively. It publishes a wide range of statistics each year across a number of areas.

How reliable is the data?

The statistics are very reliable. They are derived from the system for reimbursing professionals who dispense medicines, dressings and appliances, run by NHS Prescription Services. The specific source for these statistics is the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system, figures for which are published annually as a national statistic, by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, in April.

What trends are found in the data in terms of AD prescribing?

The report found that just under 46.7 million prescriptions for antidepressants were dispensed in England in 2011, a 9.1% increase on 2010. This was the largest increase in the number of prescription items within all 200 therapeutic areas covered in the report. However, the report points out that the rise is similar to that seen the previous year.

Antidepressant prescribing also saw the largest increase in cost of any area. Costs for antidepressant prescribing were ?49.8 million, a rise of 22.6% on 2010. In the previous two years costs for antidepressants had fallen.

The report also lists the individual changes in the number of prescriptions and costs for different antidepressants. Costs of some drugs to the NHS is determined by a scheme agreed between the NHS and drugs manufacturers (called category M) that can result in both price increases and reductions. Below are some examples of prescription data for individual antidepressants:

  • Prescriptions items for sertraline, a type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) not available as a generic and sold under the brand name Lustral, rose by 0.7m (23.2%) in 2011. Costs rose by ?39.2m (over 500%).
  • Prescriptions for fluoxetine, another SSRI available as a generic and sold under the brand name Prozac, increased by 0.1m (15.9%). Costs to the NHS fell by ?6.4m (30.4%)
  • Prescriptions for duloxetine, a newer type of antidepressant available as a generic and sold under the brand name Cymbalta, increased by 28.3% and costs rose by ?4.8m (28.3%).
  • Prescriptions for nortriptyline, available as a generic and under the brand name Allegron an older type of antidepressant called a tricyclic, rose by 21.6% and costs by ?2.1m (59.9%).

Is this increase a direct result of more people becoming depressed, or could the picture be more complex than that?

It?s not certain why antidepressant prescriptions have risen.

Some experts argue that the long-term rise is linked to the economic downturn that began in 2007. Factors such as job insecurity, rising levels of debt and reduced living standards are known to lead to a rise in feelings of depression and/or anxiety.

However, the rise may partly be down to the fact that mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are no longer seen as taboo and are more widely recognised. So more people are prepared than in the past to go to their GP for help.

Another factor is while several non-drug treatments such as talking treatments are recommended for mild depression, access to these types of treatment can be limited depending on where you live.

Are antidepressants used for anything other than treating depression?

Antidepressants are also used for other mental health problems such as:

  • anxiety
  • obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • post-traumatic stress disorder
  • panic disorder
  • serious phobias, such as agoraphobia and social phobia

An older class of antidepressants known as tricyclic antidepressants (such as amitriptyline) is sometimes prescribed to treat nerve pain as well as conditions known to cause chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis. Duloxetine is sometimes used for stress incontinence in women. But the main use for antidepressants is in treating depression.

What alternative treatments are there for depression?

There are several treatments that can be used as alternatives to antidepressants, particularly in the case of mild depression.

They include:

  • talking treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) (online CBT is also available)
  • interpersonal therapy and counselling
  • exercise programmes
  • self-help groups

In some cases a combination of treatments, such as combining antidepressants with a course of CBT, can be effective

Analysis by Bazian. Reproduced with the permission of NHS Choices

Source: http://www.gloveman.co.uk/blog/?p=7690

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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Electrical Services of H. Electric in Santa Monica

Santa Monica Electrician has provided electrical services to homeowners and businesses throughout Santa Monica.

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August 1, 2012 - Since all our electrical, electronic and mechanical devices that we use every day run on electricity, it is very important to have knowledge of reliable and professional electricians for emergency or other electrical services. People of Santa Monica need not worry about their electrical issues as H. Electric provides the best?electrician in Santa Monica. It is a renowned company and has a long list of satisfied customers.

Anyone who requires electrician in Santa Monica needs to contact H. Electric by phone or e-mail to initiate the entire process. When contacted, the operators gather information about the kind of requirement that the customer is looking for and schedule an appointment according to the time of preference mentioned by the customer. Technician reaches the place of work within 2 hours window of the scheduled time and the work is finished within the stipulated time. The work-time may get extended depending upon the complexity of the work. People may also contact H. Electric through their website www.electriciansantamonica.org or search for them online through any search engine by simply typing electrician Santa Monica; the website link for H. Electric is always one of the top search results.

Santa Monica electrician are experienced and have experts who resolve the issues pertaining to lighting, ceiling fans, T.V., telephone, data cables, panel upgrade or new circuit within a quick time. Heavy electrical duties such as surge protection for whole house, remodelling, renovation and new construction are also undertaken and completed by H electric professionals with equal finesse. Personal or commercial property management is an additional paid service that they offer. They also offer services for your refrigerators, garbage disposal and telephone power, dimmers, GFIs and fuses, energy savings, power problems, resetting circuit, breakers etc. Also on offer are a few free services such as providing of free quotes or estimates for a particular task which you may want to be done.

Apart from services, the professionalism is another factor behind the number of their satisfied customers. They stand firmly behind their standard of work which is established by the provision of lifetime guarantee on all their work. The charges for every service are mentioned and adhered to at the time of contact or before the technician begin to work. They have clean reputation of no implied fee or charge under any circumstances, which the customers find really convincing. All their services are bonded, insured and authorised to provide that much needed peace of mind.

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About Santa Monica electrician

Website: http://www.electriciansantamonica.org/

H. Electric was founded in 1991 and since then has been dedicatedly working to resolve electrical issues of the people of Santa Monica. The company has grown because of its professionalism, punctuality and customer-friendly schemes and offers.

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July factory growth slowest in almost three years: Markit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The manufacturing sector grew in July at its slowest pace in nearly three years as a debt crisis in Europe and economic and political uncertainty at home dented demand, a survey showed on Wednesday.

The final Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index stood at 51.4 in July, below both a preliminary estimate of 51.8 and June's reading of 52.5. It was the lowest reading since September of 2009.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

If falling export orders and weaker domestic demand persist, the sector may start to contract in the third quarter, said Markit chief economist Chris Williamson.

"Producers are being hit by the ongoing euro zone crisis, slower global economic growth and increasing unease about demand in the home market as elections loom closer and uncertainty hangs over fiscal and monetary policies," Williamson said.

Orders for export fell for a second straight month while the pace of overall new orders slowed to 51.0 from 53.7 in June.

The index's employment component slipped to 52.7 from 52.8, suggesting, Williamson said, that "companies are clearly taking a cautious approach to recruitment."

The economy slowed in the second quarter, leaving markets betting the Federal Reserve will kick off another round of monetary stimulus, possibly by September.

The economy also faces a raft of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts in 2013 unless Congress delays them. This likely won't be addressed until after the November 6 presidential election.

(Reporting By Steven C. Johnson; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/july-factory-growth-slowest-almost-three-years-markit-130844565--business.html

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MBT become remarkably successful and popular in the USA | Public ...

Health-and-Fitness Hypnosis: An Effective Form of Phobia Therapy?

25th July 2012 Hypnosis therapy is an approach that is mbt outlet taken to help treat the phobias that people experience. Since phobias, no matter how strange, are the result of a fearful event or incident in a person past, hypnotherapy can help to bring to light the memories th? Read >

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Wedding Marriage Five Ways a Wedding Photographer Makes Your Ceremony Special

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11th July 2012 Basement waterproofing is not a simple task. However, it can be manageable if you have the right tools, purchase the right materials, and have the right instructions. This article will provide you with basic waterproofing tips and techniques in order to a? Read >

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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Murdoch's The Daily to let go nearly a third of staff in revamp

(Reuters) - News Corp's digital tablet magazine The Daily is letting go of 50 employees, around 29 percent of its total, as it streamlines production to focus on its most popular features.

Launched just 18 months ago, The Daily was News Corp chief Rupert Murdoch's risky bet that he could reinvigorate his news business with tablet devices like Apple Inc's iPad.

But The Daily has struggled to find its feet in a turbulent and uncertain news market, where well-established print papers have been cutting staff and going through numerous restructurings as circulation and advertising dollars shrink.

As part of the changes, The Daily's sports pages will be provided by its sister company Fox Sports and it will lose its opinion section.

The publication will move to a portrait-only orientation which it said is how the vast majority of its readers' view the pages. Video will still be viewable in landscape mode, it added.

The publication operates on a traditional subscription news model at the cost of 99 cents a week or $39.99 a year.

Editor-in-Chief Jesse Angelo said in a statement the changes would help make the title more nimble to focus on readers interests better.

"Unfortunately, these changes have forced us to make difficult decisions and to say goodbye to some colleagues who have worked hard to make The Daily successful."

A News Corp spokesman said the media giant remains committed to The Daily.

The Daily will be part of a new News Corp publishing and information company after the 60-year-old media giant splits into two separate companies sometime in 2013.

The Daily will sit alongside The Wall Street Journal, UK tabloid The Sun, the Amplified education division and book publisher Harper Collins among other units.

The larger News Corp business will house its entertainment properties including Fox Broadcast, cable networks such as FX and National Geographic as well as Hollywood studio 20th Century Fox.

(Reporting By Yinka Adegoke; Editing by Richard Chang)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/murdochs-daily-let-nearly-third-staff-revamp-214922900--finance.html

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AT&T Inspire 4G update now available, Sense 3.0 included

HTC Inspire 4G

HTC has been busy trying to justify their lack of ICS on the Inspire 4G / Desire HD to users but that doesn't mean they've forgotten about the device entirely. AT&T Inspire 4G owners should soon see an update notification on their device or if you're unwilling to wait, you can download the RUU direct from the HTC website. As noted on their support site, the update has quite a few changes in it:

New features:

  • HTC Sense 3.0
  • Task Manager
  • AT&T Address Book

Fixes/Updates:

  • Call optimization improvements (fewer dropped calls)
  • Improved security functionality
  • SMS/MMS Thread – Contact Display Fix
  • Background Data Use Improvement

Even though it's not Android 4.0, it's still a nice update. Keep in mind, if you download the RUU you'll need HTC Sync installed and you'll lose all your current data on the device. With some patience though, you can just wait for the OTA update to arrive and don't forget to drop by the forums and let us know how things are working out.

Source: HTC, via: Android Central Forums



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/gdEr-5Wfwck/story01.htm

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Vaccine research shows vigilance needed against evolution of more-virulent malaria

Vaccine research shows vigilance needed against evolution of more-virulent malaria [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 31-Jul-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Barbara K. Kennedy
sciencew@psu.edu
814-863-4682
Penn State

This release is also available in Chinese on EurekAlert! Chinese.

Malaria parasites evolving in vaccinated laboratory mice become more virulent, according to research at Penn State University. The mice were injected with a critical component of several candidate human malaria vaccines that now are being evaluated in clinical trials. "Our research shows immunization with this particular type of malaria vaccine can create ecological conditions that favor the evolution of parasites that cause more severe disease in unvaccinated mice," said Andrew Read, Alumni Professor of Biological Sciences at Penn State.

"We are a long way from being able to assess the likelihood of this process occurring in humans, but our research suggests the need for vigilance. It is possible that more-virulent strains of malaria might evolve if a malaria vaccine goes into widespread use," Read said. The research, which will be published in the 31 July 2012 issue of the scientific journal PLoS Biology, showed that more-virulent malaria parasites evolved in response to vaccination, but the exact mechanism is still a mystery. It was not due to changes in the part of the parasite targeted by the vaccine.

No malaria vaccine ever has been approved for widespread use. "Effective malaria vaccines are notoriously difficult to develop because the malaria parasite is very complex. Hundreds of different malaria strains exist simultaneously within any local region where the disease is prevalent," Read said. Most vaccine developers use only small sections of the malaria parasite to produce an antigen molecule that then becomes a key ingredient in a highly purified malaria vaccine. Read's lab tested the antigen AMA-1, a component of several such vaccines now in various stages of clinical trials.

"Our laboratory experiments followed clues from theoretical studies and earlier experiments that suggested that some malaria vaccines could favor the evolution of more-virulent malaria parasites," Read said. If candidate vaccines do not completely eliminate all the malaria parasites, the parasites that remain have opportunities to evolve. A mosquito then could transfer the evolved parasite from the vaccinated person into a new host -- a process called leaking. "Leaky vaccines create a situation that further fosters parasite evolution," Read said.

The Penn State study found that parasites causing worse malaria symptoms in unvaccinated mice evolved after "leaking" consecutively through as few as 10 vaccinated mice. "The parasites that are able to survive in the immunized hosts must be stronger after having survived exposure to the vaccine," Read said. "The vaccine-induced immunity apparently removed the less virulent malaria parasites, but left the more virulent ones."

The AMA-1 antigen used in the Penn State study triggers the body to make anti-malaria antibodies. These antibodies recognize the AMA-1 antigen on the parasites and disable the malaria infection. The shape of the antigen ensures that the antibodies can bind securely with the malaria parasite -- like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle -- an important step in producing immunity. Scientists already knew that vaccines become obsolete when evolutionary mutations change the parasite's antigen structure in such a way that the antibody is not able to lock onto the targeted part of the parasite. But the Penn State study showed the malaria parasite evolved within the vaccinated mice even without any detectable changes in the antibody target on the parasite.

"We were surprised to find that more-virulent strains of malaria evolved even while the gene encoding the key antigen remained unchanged," said Victoria Barclay, the postdoctoral scholar in Read's lab who conducted the laboratory experiments and who is the corresponding author of the PLoS Biology paper. "We did not detect any changes in the gene sequence." The researchers conclude that evolution must have taken place somewhere in the parasite's genome. Read's lab now is hunting for the exact locations on the parasite's DNA where the mutations occurred.

"Generalizing from animal models is notoriously difficult in malaria," Read said, so the scientists do not yet know if this newly recognized type of evolution could happen in human malaria or with other rapidly evolving diseases, such as the viruses that cause AIDS or cervical cancer. "What we do know is that in Victoria Barclay's experiments in our lab at Penn State; with our parasites, our mice, and with this particular antigen; the malaria parasites that evolved through vaccinated hosts become more virulent," he said.

"Vaccines are one of the most fantastically cost-effective health gains we've ever had, so there is no question that we should proceed on all fronts to develop a safe and effective vaccine against malaria," Read said. "At the same time, our research is revealing new reasons to proceed with vigilant caution." Read suggests that vaccine researchers conducting clinical trials should not only be carefully monitoring for parasite evolution at the vaccine target, but they also should watch for mutations throughout the parasite's entire genome. "This sort of monitoring also should go on once a new vaccine goes into widespread use," he said. "It appears that in a world with leaky vaccines, virulent pathogen strains can evolve. Different vaccines or other transmission-blocking measures might be needed to stop the spread of any evolved parasites," Read said.

###

This research received financial support from Penn State University.

[ Barbara K. Kennedy ]

CONTACTS
Andrew Read: a.read@psu.edu, 814-321-5004 (cell)
Barbara Kennedy (PIO): science@psu.edu, 814-863-4682

IMAGES
High-resolution images are online at http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2012-news/Read7-2012

CAPTIONS (same for both images)
The image shows red blood cells, some of which are infected with ring-stage malaria parasites. Parasites invade, replicate and rupture from red blood cells multiple times during an infection.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Vaccine research shows vigilance needed against evolution of more-virulent malaria [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 31-Jul-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Barbara K. Kennedy
sciencew@psu.edu
814-863-4682
Penn State

This release is also available in Chinese on EurekAlert! Chinese.

Malaria parasites evolving in vaccinated laboratory mice become more virulent, according to research at Penn State University. The mice were injected with a critical component of several candidate human malaria vaccines that now are being evaluated in clinical trials. "Our research shows immunization with this particular type of malaria vaccine can create ecological conditions that favor the evolution of parasites that cause more severe disease in unvaccinated mice," said Andrew Read, Alumni Professor of Biological Sciences at Penn State.

"We are a long way from being able to assess the likelihood of this process occurring in humans, but our research suggests the need for vigilance. It is possible that more-virulent strains of malaria might evolve if a malaria vaccine goes into widespread use," Read said. The research, which will be published in the 31 July 2012 issue of the scientific journal PLoS Biology, showed that more-virulent malaria parasites evolved in response to vaccination, but the exact mechanism is still a mystery. It was not due to changes in the part of the parasite targeted by the vaccine.

No malaria vaccine ever has been approved for widespread use. "Effective malaria vaccines are notoriously difficult to develop because the malaria parasite is very complex. Hundreds of different malaria strains exist simultaneously within any local region where the disease is prevalent," Read said. Most vaccine developers use only small sections of the malaria parasite to produce an antigen molecule that then becomes a key ingredient in a highly purified malaria vaccine. Read's lab tested the antigen AMA-1, a component of several such vaccines now in various stages of clinical trials.

"Our laboratory experiments followed clues from theoretical studies and earlier experiments that suggested that some malaria vaccines could favor the evolution of more-virulent malaria parasites," Read said. If candidate vaccines do not completely eliminate all the malaria parasites, the parasites that remain have opportunities to evolve. A mosquito then could transfer the evolved parasite from the vaccinated person into a new host -- a process called leaking. "Leaky vaccines create a situation that further fosters parasite evolution," Read said.

The Penn State study found that parasites causing worse malaria symptoms in unvaccinated mice evolved after "leaking" consecutively through as few as 10 vaccinated mice. "The parasites that are able to survive in the immunized hosts must be stronger after having survived exposure to the vaccine," Read said. "The vaccine-induced immunity apparently removed the less virulent malaria parasites, but left the more virulent ones."

The AMA-1 antigen used in the Penn State study triggers the body to make anti-malaria antibodies. These antibodies recognize the AMA-1 antigen on the parasites and disable the malaria infection. The shape of the antigen ensures that the antibodies can bind securely with the malaria parasite -- like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle -- an important step in producing immunity. Scientists already knew that vaccines become obsolete when evolutionary mutations change the parasite's antigen structure in such a way that the antibody is not able to lock onto the targeted part of the parasite. But the Penn State study showed the malaria parasite evolved within the vaccinated mice even without any detectable changes in the antibody target on the parasite.

"We were surprised to find that more-virulent strains of malaria evolved even while the gene encoding the key antigen remained unchanged," said Victoria Barclay, the postdoctoral scholar in Read's lab who conducted the laboratory experiments and who is the corresponding author of the PLoS Biology paper. "We did not detect any changes in the gene sequence." The researchers conclude that evolution must have taken place somewhere in the parasite's genome. Read's lab now is hunting for the exact locations on the parasite's DNA where the mutations occurred.

"Generalizing from animal models is notoriously difficult in malaria," Read said, so the scientists do not yet know if this newly recognized type of evolution could happen in human malaria or with other rapidly evolving diseases, such as the viruses that cause AIDS or cervical cancer. "What we do know is that in Victoria Barclay's experiments in our lab at Penn State; with our parasites, our mice, and with this particular antigen; the malaria parasites that evolved through vaccinated hosts become more virulent," he said.

"Vaccines are one of the most fantastically cost-effective health gains we've ever had, so there is no question that we should proceed on all fronts to develop a safe and effective vaccine against malaria," Read said. "At the same time, our research is revealing new reasons to proceed with vigilant caution." Read suggests that vaccine researchers conducting clinical trials should not only be carefully monitoring for parasite evolution at the vaccine target, but they also should watch for mutations throughout the parasite's entire genome. "This sort of monitoring also should go on once a new vaccine goes into widespread use," he said. "It appears that in a world with leaky vaccines, virulent pathogen strains can evolve. Different vaccines or other transmission-blocking measures might be needed to stop the spread of any evolved parasites," Read said.

###

This research received financial support from Penn State University.

[ Barbara K. Kennedy ]

CONTACTS
Andrew Read: a.read@psu.edu, 814-321-5004 (cell)
Barbara Kennedy (PIO): science@psu.edu, 814-863-4682

IMAGES
High-resolution images are online at http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2012-news/Read7-2012

CAPTIONS (same for both images)
The image shows red blood cells, some of which are infected with ring-stage malaria parasites. Parasites invade, replicate and rupture from red blood cells multiple times during an infection.


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Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-07/ps-vrs072412.php

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