Health

2024-02-23 14:45:42

[CP] Agricultural Orientation Law: no sustainable way out of the crisis without linking renewal of agricultural generations and transition – Environnement Santé Network TOP
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2024-02-24 03:11:42

The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly advises all Canadians to ensure they are fully vaccinated once morest measles, especially before traveling.

Amid the spread of measles, the agency says it is concerned regarding the March holiday season, which might lead to more cases of this highly contagious disease in the country.

To be fully protected, adults and children must have received two doses of measles vaccine.

The first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is usually given to babies 12 to 15 months old, and then once more before the child starts school.

The Canadian Immunization Guide recommends that adults who are unsure whether or not they have received two vaccinations should receive a booster shot, especially if they are traveling.

It also recommends that adults born before 1970 who are unsure whether they have ever had measles receive one dose of the vaccine.

If parents are traveling with babies younger than 12 months, the baby must receive a dose of measles vaccine if they are at least 6 months old.

Dr. Shelly Bolotin, director of the Center for Vaccine Preventable Diseases at the University of Toronto, says there is no harm in getting an extra dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. .

Importing cases

Measles was declared eliminated in Canada in 1998, meaning that all outbreaks since then have started from an infected person in another country.

Recently, measles cases have increased in other countries, including the United Kingdom.

“As there is an increase in cases outside of Canada, it is understandable that we are also seeing an increase in imports [de rougeole], explained Dr. Bolotin. What we need to do is ensure that our population is adequately protected so that when cases arise, they do not spread into large epidemics [ici]. »

The Public Health Agency is aware of six cases of measles so far in Canada in 2024, according to an emailed statement Thursday.

“Measles can cause pneumonia, as well as serious and lifelong complications, including deafness and brain damage resulting from inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), the statement said. Measles can be a deadly infection. Children under 5 years old, adults over 20 years old, pregnant people, and immunocompromised people are at higher risk of complications from measles. »

Decline in vaccination and increased risks

“As the spring break holidays approach, I am concerned that the resurgence of measles worldwide, combined with the decline in measles vaccination coverage among school-age children in Canada, will lead to a increase in the number of imported cases of measles, which might result in transmission in Canadian communities,” worried Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, in a press release released Friday.

Dr. Tam specifies that the measles vaccine should preferably be administered at least two weeks before departure abroad.

“For anyone traveling this spring, I urge you to be vigilant and watch for measles symptoms,” she recommends. The first symptoms are fever, red, watery eyes, runny nose and cough, followed by a red rash that starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body. If, upon returning to Canada following traveling abroad, you suspect you have contracted measles, wear a well-fitted medical mask and limit contact with others, if possible. »

A 2021 survey of childhood immunization coverage in Canada indicates that 91.6% of 2-year-olds have received at least one dose of a measles vaccine, but only 79.2% of 7-year-olds received two doses.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of measles cases worldwide increased 79% in 2023 compared to 2022, with Europe particularly affected. This increase is attributed in part to a decrease in measles vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canadian Press’ health content receives funding through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for editorial choices.

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2024-02-24 03:17:24

An overseas study showed that finasteride (product name: Propecia, Proscar), a treatment for hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia, is effective in treating hyperlipidemia.

According to the medical news portal news ‘Medical Life Science’ on the 23rd (local time), a research team led by Professor Jaume Hamengual of Food and Nutrition at the University of Illinois College of Agriculture conducted a study that concluded, “Finasteride lowers blood cholesterol levels and inhibits the progression of arteriosclerosis.” The results were announced.

Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) that inhibits the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, an androgen metabolite found in prostate and hair follicle tissues. Simply put, it is a drug that blocks proteins in the hair follicles and prostate that activate testosterone.

The research team analyzed data from 4,800 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHNES) from 2009 to 2016, including 150 who were taking finasteride.

As a result, finasteride users had an average of 30 mg/dl lower total blood cholesterol levels than non-users. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, the ‘bad’ cholesterol, were also low.

However, the research team stated, “It is not possible to confirm what dose and for how long finasteride users used because there is no data.”

To confirm this result, the research team conducted an experiment directly on mice.

The research team first administered different doses of finasteride to male mice that had been genetically modified to increase the risk of arteriosclerosis. In addition, they were fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks.

After 12 weeks, the research team measured the mice’s blood cholesterol and other lipid levels and looked for the appearance of atherosclerotic plaques.

The study found that only mice administered the highest dose of finasteride had lower blood cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaque levels.

Arteriosclerosis, which occurs when cholesterol accumulates in the arteries, is much more common in men than in pre-menopausal women. Therefore, scientists have long suspected that the male hormone testosterone plays an important role in arteriosclerosis.

However, the research team explained, “Because the metabolism of finasteride in the body is different in mice and humans, the same effect may not be seen in humans when administered at the maximum dose.”

In addition, as a result of RNA sequencing of mice administered finasteride, it was found that the liver inflammatory pathway was suppressed and the bile acid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation (OP), and cholesterol pathways that help decompose fat were activated.

In the future, the research team plans to track the blood cholesterol levels of finasteride users or confirm the effectiveness of finasteride through clinical trials.

Meanwhile, the results of this study were published in the latest issue of the Journal of Lipid Research, an academic journal of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).

Ha Soo-young ([email protected])

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