United States first country to launch Saxenda®

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 05:00 AM PDT

Novo Nordisk today announced that Saxenda® (liraglutide 3 mg) is now available in the United States (US). Saxenda® is the first glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for weight management, approved in the US, EU and Canada.

Researchers question use of paracetamol for lower back pain and osteoarthritis

Posted: 01 Apr 2015 02:00 AM PDT

New research shows that paracetamol is ineffective in reducing pain, disability or improving quality of life for patients who suffer from low back pain or osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, and its use may affect the liver. The study published in the British Medical Journal provides new evidence that paracetamol is no better at treating low back pain than a placebo and its effect on osteoarthritis of the hip or knee is too small to be clinically worthwhile.

Hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women: Does it help or harm your heart?

Posted: 10 Mar 2015 02:00 AM PDT

New evidence published today in the Cochrane Library shows that hormone replacement therapy does not protect post-menopausal women against cardiovascular disease, and may even cause an increased risk of stroke. HRT, now more commonly known as hormone therapy, is widely used for controlling menopausal symptoms. It has also been used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women.

Safety and life-saving efficacy of statins have been exaggerated

Posted: 23 Feb 2015 04:00 AM PST

Hailed as miracle drugs when they hit the market two decades ago, statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs prescribed to prevent heart attacks, are not as effective nor as safe as we have been led to believe, say Dr. David M. Diamond, a professor of psychology, molecular pharmacology and physiology at the University of South Florida, and Dr. Uffe Ravnskov, an independent health researcher and an expert in cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

Short-term use of hormone replacement therapy associated with increased ovarian cancer risk

Posted: 12 Feb 2015 11:00 PM PST

Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the menopause, even for just a few years, is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing the two most common types of ovarian cancer, according to a detailed re-analysis of all the available evidence, published in The Lancet.

Another reason to drink wine: It could help you burn fat

Posted: 06 Feb 2015 01:00 AM PST

Drinking red grape juice or wine - in moderation - could improve the health of overweight people by helping them burn fat better, according to a new study coauthored by an Oregon State University researcher. The findings suggest that consuming dark-colored grapes, whether eating them or drinking juice or wine, might help people better manage obesity and related metabolic disorders such as fatty liver.

Add nature, art and religion to life's best anti-inflammatories

Posted: 04 Feb 2015 04:00 AM PST

Taking in such spine-tingling wonders as the Grand Canyon, Sistine Chapel ceiling or Schubert's "Ave Maria" may give a boost to the body's defense system, according to new research from UC Berkeley. Researchers have linked positive emotions - especially the awe we feel when touched by the beauty of nature, art and spirituality - with lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are proteins that signal the immune system to work harder.