How Herbal Medicine Can Be Integrated Into Treatment for Added Benefits
Within the integrative medicine service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), for example, the worlds of herbal and cutting-edge conventional medicine work together. There is a board-certified clinical herbal pharmacist who works directly with physicians and patients to assist with all herbal questions and recommend herbal treatments. The pharmacist also manages the herbal formulary list, which consists of several traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbal formulas used to manage symptoms of disease, along with several other supplements such as turmeric, ginger, and turkey tail mushrooms.
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New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Your body starts aging faster at this ‘inflection point' — it's earlier than you might think
Are you over the hill? A shocking new study has pinpointed the exact window when the human aging process begins to accelerate — and it happens well before you reach senior status. Researchers found the body breaks down unevenly, with one vital organ taking the hardest hit and possibly speeding up damage elsewhere. 3 Your body's organs aren't aging at the same rate — with one particularly susceptible to early decline. Vane Nunes – In the study, Chinese scientists analyzed 516 tissue samples from 76 organ donors between the ages of 14 and 68, all of whom died from accidental traumatic brain injury. The samples covered all of the body's major biological systems, including cardiovascular, digestive, immune, endocrine and skin. Using advanced analysis, the team found that the number of 48 proteins linked to disease became significantly more prominent as donor age increased. The proteins were tied to a host of conditions, from cardiovascular disease and tissue fibrosis to fatty liver and liver-related tumors. But not all organs aged equally. Protein-level changes in the adrenal gland — the hormone-producing powerhouse — began showing up as early as age 30. But the real shift happened between ages 45 and 55, when protein expression ramped up rapidly across several major organ systems. 3 The body likely hits an 'inflection point' where aging begins to accelerate around the age of 50. micromonkey – The most dramatic changes showed up in the aorta, the body's main artery responsible for sending oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. 'Temporal analysis revealed an aging inflection around age 50, with blood vessels being a tissue that ages early and is markedly susceptible to aging,' the study authors wrote. One protein in particular, known as GAS6, stood out. Its levels rose in the aorta as donors got older — and researchers think it may play a central role in triggering aging throughout the body. In experiments, the team injected young mice with GAS6. After, they found that the rodents developed clear signs of premature aging, including weak grip strength, poor balance and visible damage to their blood vessels. 3 Blood vessels may carry proteins that promote aging throughout the body, researcher suspect. AJ_stock_photos – 'Blood vessels seem to act as a conduit carrying molecules that promote aging throughout the body,' Guanghui Liu, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences who lead the study, said in an interview with local news outlet The Chosun Daily. The findings reinforce the growing belief that aging doesn't happen on a straight timeline. However, further research is needed to declare 50 a biological breaking point, according to Maja Olecka, a scientist at the Leibniz Institute on Aging — Fritz Lipmann Institute in Germany, who was not involved in the study. 'There are these waves of age-related changes,' Olecka told Scientific American. 'But it is still difficult to make a general conclusion about the timing of the inflection points.' In the US, nearly 58 million Americans are 65 and older — and that number is projected to soar to nearly 89 million by 2060, according to the National Institute on Aging. While good health is key to independence and productivity later in life, a staggering 93% of older Americans have at least one chronic condition — and nearly 80% suffer from two or more. 'These insights may facilitate the development of targeted interventions for ageing and age-related diseases, paving the way to improve the health of older adults,' the study authors concluded.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
China grapples with outbreak of deadly mosquito-borne virus
A significant outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne infection, is sweeping through southern China, with thousands of cases now confirmed. The city of Foshan in Guangdong province has been particularly hard-hit, with reported cases of chikungunya fever soaring to 4,014 by Friday. This marks a rapid escalation since authorities began tracking the infection just two weeks prior, according to public records from local health departments. Sun Yang, deputy director of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, described the outbreak as "quite severe" during a news conference in Foshan on Wednesday. The World Health Organisation states that chikungunya, transmitted by infected mosquito bites, typically causes fever and severe joint pain, though fatalities are uncommon. In response, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued advisories for preventing both chikungunya and dengue fever, another mosquito-borne illness. Recommendations include using physical barriers like screen doors and mosquito nets, alongside applying repellent to exposed skin. The CDC also noted the epidemic was "imported," without disclosing its origin. The Chinese agency also called for people who have symptoms like fever, rash and joint pain to see a doctor. Shunde district in Foshan, where 90 per cent of the cases are located, is famous for its Cantonese food, and sees many visitors each year. Patients who tested positive for chikungunya fever stayed in hospital beds covered by mosquito nets, according to photos shown on state-run broadcaster CCTV. Local media reports said on Thursday that local authorities had almost doubled the number of mosquito-proof isolation beds to 7,220 to meet the growing demand. Authorities in Guangdong are urging residents to make sure there's no standing water in their homes, such as in flowerpots, coffee machines or spare bottles. The Health Commission in Foshan stated on Thursday that a fine of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,400) could be applied if violations are found. The Beijing CDC said on Tuesday that the city occasionally experiences imported cases of chikungunya fever. There are two chikungunya vaccines that have received regulatory approvals in several countries and/or have been recommended for use in populations at risk, but the vaccines are neither widely available nor in widespread use, according to WHO. China had its first chikungunya spike in 2010 with 253 cases in Dongguan, a nearby city in the same province, according to the Guangdong provincial CDC. Several cases were found in years since then, but they weren't widespread. The country's first case was imported in 1987, according to research papers and media reports.
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Lawmakers press FDA to target knockoff weight-loss drug
Dozens of lawmakers are urging US health regulators to crack down on the booming market for knockoff weight-loss drugs amid mounting concerns over their potential safety risks. On Friday, a group of more than 80 bipartis an lawmakers asked the US Food and Drug Administration to stop counterfeit and copycat versions of GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound from flooding the market — a problem that emerged over the last year. 'We are concerned about recent reports revealing a surge in illegal and counterfeit anti-obesity medications,' they wrote in a letter to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. 'Undoubtedly, illegal counterfeit medications pose an increased risk to patient safety with sometimes fatal consequences.' The group — spearheaded by Representatives Richard Hudson of North Carolina and Herb Conaway of New Jersey — asked the agency to ramp up enforcement over illegally imported weight-loss drugs. They suggested issuing warning letters and better monitoring non-compliant online retailers and so-called compounding pharmacies that sell the medicines. The lawmakers also said the FDA should work in tandem with US Customs and Border Patrol agents to stop Chinese entities from shipping unsafe weight-loss drugs into the US. They requested an update on the FDA's efforts by July 30, given the 'urgency' of the situation. A spokesperson for the FDA said the agency will work with the US Department of Health and Human Services to provide a 'complete and thorough' response to the issues raised in the lawmakers' letter. 'Any effort to undermine America's supply of safe medicines is an issue that FDA takes seriously,' the spokesperson said. 'And we are deeply committed to strengthening the oversight of imported products at US ports of entry.' In recent years, the popularity of GLP-1 drugs has led to an explosion of copycats and counterfeits made by companies seeking to capitalize on the hype. State-licensed pharmacies were temporarily allowed to make copies of the drugs during a supply shortage, but are no longer permitted to do so after Novo Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly & Co. boosted production. Still, some pharmacies have refused to wind down their operations while others have pivoted to selling the drugs in lower doses in order to avoid regulatory scrutiny. Counterfeit drugs are made by unregistered entities typically using illegally imported ingredients. As recently as April, there continue to be instances when counterfeit Ozempic pens covertly enter the drug supply chain undetected. Some patients are also purchasing ingredients directly from online sellers in an attempt to make the drugs themselves at home. In both cases, the medications don't go through the same rigorous approval process as brand-name drugs made by Novo and Lilly. Experts worry the lack of oversight is putting patients at risk. The FDA has said it's aware of hospitalizations potentially linked to the copycat drugs, but that adverse events are likely being underreported. 'We support the bi-partisan call for the FDA to crack down on counterfeit and illegally sold weight-loss drugs,' said a spokesperson for Hims & Hers Health Inc., one of the telehealth firms that sells compounded GLP-1s. 'We appreciate lawmakers' recognition that legitimate compounded medications dispensed by state-regulated pharmacies are not counterfeit. Patient safety must always come first.' Novo and Lilly have discouraged consumers from using compounded and counterfeit products, including suing telehealth firms that sell the copycat versions and working with border agents to seize illegal shipments. Under the Biden administration, the companies repeatedly urged the FDA to take action, but the agency mostly limited its actions to issuing consumer warnings — even as its top drug official publicly acknowledged safety concerns. Under the Trump administration, the HHS has also focused more heavily on other issues, such as banning food dyes and examining vaccine schedules. Meanwhile, lawmakers are ramping up their calls for action. State attorneys and other lawmakers have sent letters to the FDA and Federal Trade Commission advocating for greater transparency around the treatments and more scrutiny around marketing practices. Muller writes for Bloomberg.
