Deep Brain Stimulation for Treating Parkinson’s disease

New study has shown that deep brain stimulation (DBS) can actually improve the life expectancy of patients who are having severe disease like advanced Parkinson’s disease.

Researchers of University of Florida and 14 other medial centers showed the result in the online version of the Lancet Neurology journal. Parkinson’s drugs can have adverse side effects on patients which include tremors, slowness of movement, motor disability to name a few. St. Jude Medical Inc., who has sponsored the test have come up with a DBS device with the help of St. Jude Medical to help reduce the effects of the disease with this device. The research showed that people under the effective symptom control also known as “on time” seems to have a better control over their involuntary movements. Patients who were getting stimulation showed a good increase in their daily work, mobility, emotional well being and physical health.

Dr. Michael S, Okun, first author of the study, administrative director of the UF College of Medicine’s Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, and the National Medical Director for the National Parkinson Foundation, highlighted that he thinks that with time there will be a lot of improvement in DBS device and was hopeful that lot of patients will get benefits from it.

The procedure is that an electrode is imparted in the brain which is connected to a device, the electrical currents are passed through it and the brain is rectified, the surgeons detects the problem area of the brain and the operation is done according to that. Research, is also going on in Baylor College of Medicine Columbia University, the University of Miami, Texas Health Presbyterian to name a few. Study confirms that the electrical currents given gently to the certain brain type with patients having advanced Parkinson’s disease will improve with time. The improvement in the device and transmittal system will get better.

The use of DBS was approved by FDA way back in 2002. The United States is suffering heavily due to Parkinson’s disease as 500,000 people have Parkinson’s and about 50,000 new cases of disease comes each year, as reported by National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke.

The study has been a wake up call for health organizations and new innovative development in this field as early as possible will only help to deduce the impact of disease that has struck America The infection rate is also come down drastically from 10% to 4% as highlighted by Dr. Gordon H Baltuch, a professor of neurosurgery in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and a study author. Due to research taking place allover the doctor are extremely optimistic about DBS device helping curing the Parkinson’s disease.

Replacement For Viagra is Stendra, FDA Approves Stendra

FDA has approved new erectile dysfunction drug developed by Vivus. The drug has been named as Stendra.

With this development, Vivus has finally managed to get first approval for its product. The approval came in time when patent of Viagra is about to expire. Stendra is expected to be replacement for Viagra. The drug manufacturer is also hoping approval for its weight loss drug called Qnexa which is in reviewal process.

Stendra is brand name of Avanafil. Earlier we had reported development of Avanafil, and the drug has got approvalfrom FDA. Currently there are three FDA approved erectile dysfunction drug treatments namely, Viagra; Cialis; Levitra. Generic Viagra is most popular drug. Being top popular drug, pharmaceutical companies were competing to take place of Viagra when its patent expires.

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile Dysfunction is a disorder characterised as a man is unable to get erection or maintain erection or erection is not rigid enough for sexual intercourse. FDA estimates around 30 million suffering by erectile dysfunction caused by various reasons.

How Stendra Works?

Like other drugs, Stendra also works by increasing blood flow in penis which eventually results in erected penis.

How To Take Stendra for Best Effect?

Stendra is recommended to take half an hour before intercourse. Medical experts have seen Stendra producing effect within fifteen minutes. The time of action is maximum and can be less for other patients. Stendra is thus the fastest acting erectile dysfunction drug.

Stendra Side Effects

FDA has strictly advised patients not to take Stendra if patient is taking nitrate drug. Stendra is contraindicated to nitrate drugs and may lower blood pressure. Side effects reported by FDA are vision problem. Since Stendra is also PDE5 inhibitor drug it can cause vision loss in single or both eyes. Hearing problem is another side effect likely to develop in some patients.

Headache, nasal congstion, redness at several parts of body and back pain are common side effects observed by FDA review panel.

Glaucoma Treatment, Frost Predicts Huge Mart

Glaucoma is one of top causes for blindness across the world. In USA alone it is second top complication which leads to blindness. Frost & Sullivan, a market research company sees significant opportunities in pharmaceutical market of glaucoma treatment. Since glaucoma is widely occurs in old people, likelihood of market expansion is greater as patients grow old.

A rearch and analysis, titled as Analysis of the United States Glaucoma Pharmaceuticals Market, reckoned the market worth $2 billion for the year 2010. get more study details from here.

Drug treatment for glaucoma with higher efficacy, unique way to deliver drug in body and greater empasis on patient education for the disease could lead to remarkable success for the therapy. That is because around fifty percent patients are undiagnosed.

A strong need for a new drug treatment is felt for those who have glaucoma, because current therapies are inadequate and unable to meet goal.

There are couple of drug treatment for glaucoma in market such as prostaglandin and xalatan. Generic version of these drugs is likely to have negative impact on the market for participants in line to enter. Lack of innovations in treatment is believed to be because of the duration of the treatment which is usually for life time. Patients opts generics to make the treatment cost suitable to their budget.

The research is done by Frost & Sullivan.

Current eye drop treatment has not been convenient in many ways which leads to reduction in patient compliance. Difficulties in eye drops such as it cannot be self administered, greater frequency i.e. three times a day and failure to meet prescription duration mostly ends up discontinuation of treatment.