Ten Important Men’s Health Terms Include (listed in alphabetical order):

1. AOD: Adult Onset Diabetes, more commonly referred to as “Type II Diabetes,” is a condition marked by high blood glucose and insulin deficiency. Because diabetes affects blood sugar levels and a man’s vascular system, diabetes is often associated with other health conditions, such as heart disease and erectile dysfunction. Men will benefit by understanding the underlying health issues affecting all bodily functions and taking a holistic approach to healthcare, rather than treating a singular condition such as diabetes.

2. BMI: Body Mass Index is a number calculated using a person’s height and weight. One’s BMI is a reliable indicator of the various weight classifications, such as obesity, that can lead to other health problems. Once a man’s BMI is calculated, he can take the diet and exercise measures necessary to improve his weight category and overall health.

3. BP: High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when the force of blood within an artery is unusually high. The risk of high blood pressure increases in a man’s forties, and can cause a wide range of health problems, including aneurysms, heart failure, kidney failure and blindness. While high blood pressure is often genetic, a man can decrease his risk of hypertension by improving his diet and exercise level, and decreasing salt and alcohol intake.

4. ED: Erectile dysfunction is a condition that affects 30 million American men. According to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, 52 percent of men between the ages of 40 and 70 report having some difficulty achieving or maintaining erections.¹ Many physicians point to the fact that the penis serves as the barometer of a man’s overall health, with ED acting as an early sign of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other physical ailments. Men with even mild symptoms of ED should examine their overall health to ensure longevity.

5. HDL/LDL: HDL—or high-density lipoprotein—is known as “good cholesterol,” because it is thought to carry cholesterol away from the arteries to be processed by the liver and excreted from the body. LDL—or low-density lipoprotein—can form plaque in the arteries that feed the heart and the brain, increasing risk of clot formation and heart attack. Foods heavy in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oils, flax seeds, soy products and dark leafy greens have been shown to lower fat in the bloodstream and improve overall blood flow.

6. ICP: Used to treat erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, intracavernous pharmocotherapy (ICP) is a combination of FDA-approved medications that is injected into the spongy tissue of the penis, using an auto-applicator, to produce an erection within minutes. Because ICP is a localized treatment, many of the systemic risk factors that keep oral medications from being a safe treatment option for men affected with diabetes and heart conditions are not present with ICP.

7. EKG: Recommended for men over thirty-five, an electrocardiogram (EKG) is an important medical test that records the electrical activity of the heart. EKGs are used to detect abnormal rhythms and heart muscle damage.

8. STI: Sexually transmitted diseases, in recent years referred to as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are illnesses transmitted through sexual contact. Gone untreated, many STIs can adversely affect one’s immune system, organ function, blood cells and other health conditions. The most effective way to prevent STIs is by avoiding the transfer of bodily fluids; proper use of condoms also reduces risk of STIs. Both sexual partners should also get tested for STIs before initiating sexual activity.

9. CDE: In order to promote good health and strong bodily functions, it is important that the male diet is rich in vitamins and minerals. Three important vitamins for men include Vitamin C to strengthen blood vessels and muscles and protect against infection; Vitamin D, which is important for preventing some types of bone disease; and Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps repair cell membranes that protect the heart.

10. PSA: A Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein secreted by the prostate–measuring one’s PSA level has been used for some time as a method of screening for prostate cancer.

A team of researchers from the University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville, FL compared the effects of two dietary interventions on CVD risk factors in 47 women with metabolic syndrome. In the 12-week, two-arm, randomized, parallel group study, participants received a Mediterranean-style, low-glycemic-load diet alone or in conjunction with UltraMeal PLUS 360°.

Both groups experienced improvements in the following markers of CVD risk:

• Improvements in total cholesterol, LDL-C, apolipoprotein B (apoB) and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) compared to baseline
• Reduction in total LDL particle number

The group that additionally received UltraMeal PLUS 360° experienced:

• Reductions in triglycerides, apoB/apoA-1, cholesterol/HDL, and small LDL particle number
• Greater reductions in total cholesterol, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, apoB, total LDL particle number, and small LDL particle number

According to lead researcher, Mark McIntosh, MD, “All of our subjects benefited from switching to this heart-healthy diet for 12 weeks. But those who received a medical food which contained the plant sterols, hops rho iso-alpha acids and acacia proanthocyanidins experienced additional benefits. We believe this combination of healthy eating and targeted nutrients offers an effective therapeutic option for clinicians whose patients suffer from metabolic syndrome.”

The study was conducted by Dr. McIntosh, Colleen J. Kalynych, Clare Vukich, Vivek Kumar, Michelle Lott (all of the University of Florida College of Medicine/Jacksonville) and Robert Lerman (of MetaProteomics, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metagenics, Inc.) and sponsored by Metagenics, Inc.

A Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet emphasizing “good” fats, whole grains, fresh produce, and fish, has been shown to be effective in addressing metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that affects nearly a third of adults in the U.S. and increases their risk to develop cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and many other chronic diseases. Metabolic syndrome is defined as the presence of three or more of the following: elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, central obesity (“apple shape”), elevated blood triglycerides, and low HDL (“good cholesterol”).

The key ingredients in UltraMeal PLUS 360° are soy protein (shown to have cholesterol-lowering effects and which may be more beneficial than animal protein in reducing the risk of heart disease); plant sterols (shown to promote healthy cholesterol levels); and hops rho iso-alpha acids and acacia proanthocyanidins (which function as selective kinase response modulators).

In patients with MS, the immune system attacks the covering (myelin sheath) that surrounds the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The attacks lead to inflammation and injury to the myelin sheath, which can result in multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis). Eventually, the scarring can slow or block nerve signals that control vision, muscle coordination, strength and sensation.

MS symptoms vary in intensity and duration, and occur in various combinations. Some people experience attacks or flare-ups followed by remissions. Others experience gradual worsening of symptoms. Typically, symptoms first appear between ages 20 and 50. Women are about twice as likely as men to develop MS.

The most common symptoms are abnormal sensory feelings such a numbness, tingling or prickling pain in the lower half or on one side of the body. Many people with MS also experience muscle weakness in one or more limbs and difficulty with coordination and balance. Symptoms may be severe enough to impair walking or standing. Other symptoms can include muscle stiffness and spasms, fatigue, blurred or double vision, difficulty concentrating, depression and loss of bowel and bladder control.

What causes or triggers MS is unclear. There is no cure for MS, but a number of therapies can treat symptoms or reduce the duration or severity of flare-ups. Other treatments, some still being studied, may help slow the course of the disease. Treatment options include:

Corticosteroids: These anti-inflammatory drugs can shorten and reduce the severity of acute attacks.

Interferons: These drugs — including Betaseron, Avonex and Rebif — are genetically engineered copies of antiviral proteins that occur naturally in the body. They have been shown to decrease the number of attacks and may decrease the destruction of myelin, possibly slowing progression of MS.

Glatiramer (Copaxone): An alternative to interferons, it is believed to help curb MS attacks by blocking the immune system’s attack on myelin.

Natalizumab (Tysabri): This drug can reduce the frequency of MS attacks by limiting the ability of immune cells to move from the bloodstream to the brain. However, it can increase the risk of serious brain infection.

Mitoxantrone (Novantrone): Clinical trials show that this immunosuppressant drug may help slow down MS. It may not be effective unless there’s evidence of active inflammation. The drug has been associated with serious side effects such as heart problems and leukemia.

Symptom-specific medications: A number of drugs can help relieve symptoms such as muscle stiffening, fatigue, depression and incontinence. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug dalfampridine (Ampyra) as a treatment to improve walking in adults with MS.

In addition to medications, patients with MS may benefit from counseling, physical therapy and lifestyle modifications to help manage symptoms.

Of the senior supply chain executives surveyed, a third said reform would either open up new markets or create new customers. But 20% doubted the ability of their companies “to afford to operate” in the coming new world; 26% said flatly that reform would hamper their research and development programs, and another 22% said they already had concluded their firms did not have the infrastructure needed to compete in the future.

Despite domestic upheaval in the wake of reform and a still-recovering economy, many healthcare companies show signs of positive change. Companies are pursuing global expansion plans to develop new market opportunities outside the United States and supply chain investments are on the rise.

The results are drawn from the latest annual UPS “Pain in the (Supply) Chain” survey of senior-level healthcare supply chain executives. Now in its third year, the survey is conducted by Harris Interactive and is designed to identify the greatest pain points and future trends in the supply chains of companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device and supplies and biotech sectors.

Beyond the issues of healthcare reform and globalization, the 2010 survey also explored healthcare companies’ top business and supply chain issues. Not surprisingly, the top business concern remains what the industry considers an escalation of complex regulations around the world. The top supply chain concern is managing costs.

Global market expansion plans

Many 2010 survey findings centered around healthcare companies’ global operations and expansion plans, with nearly half (47%) of respondents planning to expand into new or emerging markets in the next 18 months.

China, India and Brazil are the emerging markets with the most current healthcare business. These countries, along with Argentina, also are the top four markets into which healthcare companies are most likely to expand in the next two to three years.

“Globalization of the healthcare market has led to numerous opportunities while simultaneously creating challenges,” added Hook. “Among these challenges are country-specific regulatory hurdles; the security of high-value, temperature-sensitive products, and the difficulties of managing multiple suppliers. To manage risks while reaching new customers, companies must focus on building greater flexibility and visibility into their supply chains.”

While most companies already are participating in some activity abroad (selling, manufacturing, sourcing and/or clinical trials), 21% of healthcare companies surveyed don’t participate in any of these activities outside the United States.

The ability to access new global and emerging markets is a growing concern for many healthcare companies with 22% more respondents reporting concerns around this in 2010 versus 2009 findings. Only 32% of this year’s respondents claim success with accessing global markets. Country regulations are the largest barrier to global expansion, cited by 54% of respondents.

Top business and supply chain concerns

The 2010 UPS Pain in the (Supply) Chain survey also explores healthcare companies’ top business and supply chain issues.

As the top business concern (“increasing regulations”) and second largest supply chain concern (“regulatory compliance”), industry regulations are a critical focus area for healthcare companies. In addition to country regulations being named the largest barrier to global expansion, 60% of companies are “very” or “extremely concerned” with regulatory compliance as a supply chain issue. Fifty-eight percent rank increasing regulations as their top business concern, making this the top overall business concern ahead of such things as intellectual property protection, increasing competition and patent expirations.

For the third year in a row, managing costs tops the list of healthcare companies’ supply chain concerns. Sixty-four percent of respondents report being “very” or “extremely concerned” with managing supply chain costs, up from 55% in 2009. At the same time, only 44% of companies report success in addressing cost management.

The questions and detailed results from the survey are as follows:

Do you feel you have health care independence?

Which statement(s) best describes what it means to have health care independence? (Please select no more than two.)

“The survey shows that retirees who use an exchange are empowered with choice – and choice is what defines their health care independence. These retirees have choice in the doctors and health care plans they select, and in how to spend the money their former employers provide them for health care benefits,” said Bryce Williams, President and CEO of Extend Health. “The level of choice that is available in our exchange is just not available any other way in our health care system today.”

To encourage women to seek second opinions before a hysterectomy or any life-changing surgery, HysterSisters founder Kathy Kelley created Give Me a Second, a new awareness campaign with an online video and website at givemeasecond.com.

“Second opinions can do three important things for any woman facing a major decision about any surgery, not just hysterectomy,” says Kathy Kelley, who started HysterSisters in 1998 after her own hysterectomy. “They can give you new information, a new perspective or peace of mind. Every woman deserves a second opinion.”

Hysterectomy is the second most frequent major surgical procedure among reproductive-aged women (after c-sections). Each year approximately 600,000 women in the United States have hysterectomies, and over 60 percent of those surgeries are performed with outdated surgical methods that mean longer hospitalizations and longer recovery periods, according to research published by Obstetrics & Gynecology in November 2009. The outdated surgical method is an open abdominal incision compared to laparoscopic, vaginal and robotic-assisted methods.

Especially for women facing gynecological health concerns or disease, second opinions may result in fewer invasive surgeries, fewer hysterectomies, an increase in alternative treatments and improved quality of life for women.

“I’m passionate about minimally invasive surgeries such as laparoscopy because patients do so well,” says Dr. Lori Warren, a gynecological surgeon at Women First Obstetrics & Gynecology in Louisville, Ky. “All women facing hysterectomy need to ask their doctors ‘do I need a large incision?’ If doctors start getting the questions, more may start getting the training.”

Kelley says by asking more questions and getting second opinions, women become respectful partners with their doctors and improve the quality of their care and their outcomes. “Give Me a Second wants women to know it’s okay to talk to more than one doctor,” she says. “In fact, it’s good for your health.”

Improvements in outcomes previously reported in 30 patients at six months were confirmed in a larger sample of 51 patients at six months. These improvements were sustained for the first 30 patients to reach the 12-month evaluation period.

The European trial, referred to as RESTORE 2, is sponsored by Cytori Therapeutics and enrolled a total of 71 patients. The fat grafts in the study were enriched with stem and regenerative cells using Cytori’s European-approved Celution® 800 System. The interim data reported today was presented at the Fifth Winchester-Jersey Masterclass in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

Interim results from the RESTORE 2 trial demonstrated a high rate of physician and patient satisfaction at six and 12 months:

• Overall physician satisfaction with treatment results was 84% at six months in 51 patients
• Overall physician satisfaction with treatment results (90%) persisted in the first 30 patients at 12 months
• Overall patient satisfaction with treatment results was 73% in 51 patients measured at six months
• Overall patient satisfaction with treatment results (70%) persisted in the 30 patients at 12 months

“Medical research has found that untreated partial mastectomy defects negatively affects patients’ psychology and quality of life,” said Dr. Eva Weiler-Mithoff, M.D., co-principal investigator for RESTORE 2 at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. “With reconstruction, patients are less likely to feel depressed or stigmatized and more likely to appreciate the treatment of breast cancer.”

“A woman is not cured until she is reconstructed. Unfortunately for most patients, few options are available and there is currently no accepted standard-of-care for breast reconstruction,” added Dr. Rosa Pérez Cano, co-principal investigator for RESTORE 2 and Chief of Plastic Surgery Services at Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain. “These interim results are encouraging as we see consistent improvements in breast deformity, breast symmetry and tissue elasticity.”

Cell-enriched breast reconstruction is a new procedure that addresses the unmet need created by partial mastectomy. This approach uses a woman’s own fat tissue combined with her own naturally available adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells to form a ‘cell-enriched’ fat graft, which is used to reconstruct the affected breast.

Dr. Cocores has dedicated the past 20 years to researching the impact of food on the brain and its link to obesity. Dr. Cocores says, “At the root of overeating, poor health and obesity is the power of processed foods — most of our diet — to actually biologically and neurologically addict us to food. This happens through the exact identical process as drug addiction and takes place in the same section of the brain — the “pleasure center” or nucleus accumbens that causes heroin or cocaine addiction.

This breakthrough, that provides the first credible explanation for the obesity epidemic is described in Dr. Cocores’ landmark, white paper “The Salted Food Addiction Hypothesis may explain overeating and the obesity epidemic” published in “Medical Hypotheses” Journal (2009;73: 892-899). He is also the author of Bright Foods – Discover the Surprising Link Between Food and Learning, Memory, Mood, and Performance (amazon.com).

The underlying neurological reason that foods are addicting is actually simple: Because over salted and cooked (processed) foods—“addictive food”—yield the largest “mg” strength of opiate drug in the pleasure center of the brain, and accelerates overeating (“progression”) and calorie consumption (“tolerance”). That means hunger and appetite are symptoms of addictive food withdrawal, and the sick feeling associated with overdoing it at an all the addictive food you can eat drug-den is actually a drug overdose. Therefore, one of the solutions to Addictive Food Dependence’s most famous symptom, obesity, is a gradual addictive food detoxification employing non-addictive or medicinal foods. The result is sustained weight loss, and improvement in focus, energy and contentment.”

For years we have been trying to treat obesity as if we were dealing with fuel consumption and efficiency. “Thinking outside this fat-box requires taking extra steps plus a little round trip down the rabbit hole. We must completely refocus our efforts to understand the biology of food addiction that creates the same compulsion to overeat that’s provoked by the same mechanism (and behavior) in the brain that causes drug addiction. Understanding how the brain’s pleasure center sensitizes your brain to “abuse” or overeat certain processed foods is essential,” stated Dr. Cocores. Dr. Cocores is treating patients, consulting and writing to help guide food companies, governments and patients as they redirect their efforts to deal with the obesity epidemic in the U.S.

“This successful experiment holds promise for treating clot-induced strokes in humans,” says study lead author Daniel C. Morris, M.D., senior staff physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital. “Neurorestorative therapy is the next frontier in the treatment of stroke.”

He will present the findings June 3 at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine in Phoenix.

Dr. Morris explains that the researchers added the synthetic peptide Thymosin beta 4 to a group of drug treatments – including statins – used for neurorestorative therapy to activate repair mechanisms which mimic cellular changes that occur in the early stages of brain development.

This research follows an earlier study, reported by the same team in March, which found that Thymosin beta 4 improved neurological function after stroke in adult rats by increasing the formation of protective myelin around nerve fibers in brain cells.

These experiments conclude that the peptide repairs and regenerates stroke-injured brain tissue.

The results of the first study also were similar to other research using the peptide to regenerate damaged heart, corneal tissue and wound repair.

In the latest study, adult rats were dosed with Thymosin beta 4 one day after they were subjected to a blockage in the cerebral artery, then given four more doses, once every three days. Rats treated only with saline were used as a control group.

After eight weeks, the Thymosin beta 4 group showed significant overall improvement compared to the control group.

The researchers concluded that the peptide improved blood vessel density as well as promoted a certain type of immature brain cells called oligodendrocyte progenitor cells to differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes, which produces myelin to protect axons in nerve cells.

In addition to Dr. Morris, the Henry Ford research team included Michael Chopp, Ph.D.; Li Zhang, M.D.; and Zheng Gang Zhang.

Thymosin beta 4 is produced by RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Each year in the United States, there are about 50,000 new cases of kidney cancer. In adults, the most common type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma. The incidence of kidney cancer seems to be increasing, though it isn’t clear why.

“Surgery remains critically important in the treatment plan for many patients. We are always looking for ways to improve patient care, including aggressive surgical management of the primary tumor and, in some cases, the metastases,” says Bradley Leibovich, M.D., Mayo Clinic urological surgeon and lead author on the study.

In a Mayo Clinic study of 888 renal cell carcinoma patients, those patients who had complete removal of all tumors that spread survived an average of five years. By comparison, patients who did not have any metastatic tumors removed had only a one year cancer-specific survival rate. The results are encouraging because renal cell carcinoma is difficult to cure when it has spread to other organs. In about 30 percent of the patients, the cancer has already spread by the time the cancer is diagnosed, with the lung being the most common site for spread. Surgery for renal cell carcinoma which has not spread is often curative and is therefore a vital treatment option — particularly since this type of cancer does not respond well to chemotherapy or radiation, explains Dr. Leibovich.

Significance of the Mayo Research
“Mayo Clinic maintains a Renal Nephrectomy Registry that presents 30 years of renal cancer surgery outcome metrics,” says Dr. Leibovich. “Our analysis shows that a significant proportion of patients with multiple renal cell carcinoma metastases will experience better outcomes if all metastases are removed.”

The study compared survival of three groups of cancer patients, all of whom had their kidneys removed to treat the cancer originating in the kidney. The comparison groups were made up of patients treated at Mayo Clinic from 1976–2006, as shown below:

1. Treatment type: No surgical removal of the metastatic tumor — Patients in treatment category out of 888 total: 506 or 57% — Median cancer-specific survival: 1.1 years

2. Treatment type: Incomplete surgical removal, in which some of the spreading ca was removed, but not all — Patients in treatment category out of 888 total: 257 or 29% — Median cancer-specific survival: 2.6 years

3. Treatment type: Complete removal to eradicate all visible tumor tissue — Patients in treatment category out of 888 total: 125 or 14% — Median cancer-specific survival: 4.8 years

The Role of Location
The study also showed that survival varied with the location of metastases. For example, patients whose cancer spread only to the lung fared the best when they underwent a complete removal of the lung lesion, compared to patients who underwent complete removal of tumors from all other locations. For the lung group, the median cancer-specific survival rate (CSS) computed in terms of the cancer — not other causes of death — was more than 10 years. This compared to a median CSS rate of 3.6 years for the patients who underwent complete removal of tumors from all other locations.

Collaboration and Support
Other researchers are Angela Alt, M.D.; Stephen Boorjian, M.D.; Christine Lohse, and Michael Blute, M.D. Their work was supported by the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.