Articles tagged with Steroids
Researchers have developed a new regimen for lung transplant patients that reduces the need for anti-rejection drugs. The protocol involves giving fewer pills less often over time, with results showing 18 out of 20 patients doing well on lower doses of one mainstay anti-rejection drug, tacrolimus.
A New York City woman was poisoned after ingesting a herbal product believed to be contaminated with digitalis lanata, a plant-derived cardioactive steroid. She recovered after receiving antidotal therapy and digoxin-specific Fab fragments.
A study by Northeastern University researchers found that adolescent steroid use is linked to reduced serotonin levels, particularly in areas related to aggression and violence. The study suggests that long-term exposure to steroids during adolescence may permanently alter the production of the 'feel-good' receptor.
A stress detector has been developed to continuously monitor hydrocortisone levels in saliva, allowing for real-time stress evaluation. The device could aid military troops, pilots, and emergency personnel in maintaining combat readiness and making informed decisions.
A study of 355 patients with severe Crohn's disease found that infliximab treatment every two months significantly increased remission rates compared to placebo. Infliximab also allowed patients to taper off steroids and maintain clinical remissions.
A multi-center research team found that infliximab prolonged remissions in moderate to severe Crohn's disease patients by twice as long at bi-monthly infusions compared to every eight weeks. The drug also helped patients reduce steroid use and improve quality of life.
A study by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Asthma Clinical Research Network found that low to medium doses of inhaled steroids improve lung function in most asthma patients. However, high doses may not provide additional benefits but increase the risk of adverse effects.
Researchers found that steroid treatment reduced sore throat pain by four hours and increased relief to twice that of placebo patients. The study also showed significant cost savings due to the pill form, which eliminates the need for a physician or nurse to administer the shot.
Researchers have discovered a new antibody treatment that prevents severe lung injury in premature babies without using steroids, which can stunt brain cell growth. The treatment, anti-CINC-1, blocks the action of white blood cells and reduces inflammation, promoting normal lung development and function.
A study by UCLA researchers found that androstenedione supplements can contain a contaminant linked to banned steroid nandrolone. The study tested 37 healthy men, revealing that 20 of their urine samples contained enough 19-norandrosterone to test positive for steroid use.
A six-year study found inhaled steroids to be safe and effective for children with mild-to-moderate asthma, reducing hospitalizations and emergency room visits by up to 43%. The treatment also improved lung growth and reduced symptoms, contradicting previous concerns about long-term risks.
Researchers found that patients with severe asthma who use intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in conjunction with steroids have fewer hospitalizations for asthma attacks than those using only steroids. IVIG also reduces lung inflammation and increases steroid sensitivity, making it an effective treatment option for people with asthma.
A recent study found that black teen-agers with severe asthma are three times more likely to be steroid-resistant compared to their white counterparts. The study also revealed that children with steroid-resistant asthma are more likely to be African-American and require larger amounts of oral steroids.
A new study found no benefit to earlier steroid treatment for premature infants, but raises concerns about potential harm. The study enrolled 371 very-low-birth-weight infants and found higher infection rates, slower growth, and smaller head size in those treated with dexamethasone.
A study of kidney patients found that those taken off steroids had significantly better one- and three-year survival rates compared to those still on the medication. One-year patient survival was 99% in the group no longer taking steroids, while one- and three-year graft survival rates were also higher.
A year-long study led by Oregon Health Sciences University found that a drug prevention program called ATLAS reduced anabolic steroid use among high school football players. The program included educational sessions on risks and benefits of steroids, proper sports nutrition, and resistance to peer pressure.