Countless Americans are suffering from thousands of diseases for which there are no treatments.  In an effort to develop new therapies for them, the National Institutes of Health launched a new program Thursday. The program is designed to match their researchers with experimental compounds currently not in further development from drug companies. "Americans are eagerly awaiting the next generation of cure and treatments to help them live linger and healthier lives. To accelerate our nation's therapeutic development process, it is essential that we forge strong, innovative and strategic partnerships across government, academia and industry," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The NIH's new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) is partnering with pharmaceutical giants Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly and Company in a collaboration that will give researchers access to two dozen compounds or molecules to test their effectiveness against a host of diseases. NCATS will provide $20 million a year for the next three years starting in 2013. The compounds have already cleared a number of hurdles in the development process including safety testing in humans. NIH Director Francis Collins says he is happy to serve as a matchmaker. While researchers have identified the cause of more than 4,500 diseases, Collins says effective treatments are only available for about 250 of them. He hopes that compounds that were not effective against the disease they were originally developed for prove to be useful for other conditions. The HIV prevention drug AZT is an example of a drug that was a failure against it's first opponent – cancer. According to Collins, it currently takes on average $2 billion over a 14-year period to move a drug discovery from the lab to treatment. This new program would save researchers time and money because they wouldn't be starting from scratch. "Clearly, we need to speed the pace at which we are turning discoveries into better health outcomes," Collins said. "NIH looks forward to working with our partners in industry and academia to tackle an urgent need that is beyond the scope of any one organization or sector." According to the NIH, under the new agreement, drug companies will retain ownership of their compounds, and their research partners retain intellectual property rights and the rights to publish the research. At the time the contract is negotiated, the drug company and the investigator determine how the profits will be divided. Pfizer was the first drug company to sign on. "We have these wonderful molecules that have all the properties to be clinical research tools," Rod MacKenzie, group senior vice president, head of Pfizer PharmaTherapeutics Research and Development said. "The great hope that we have is having invested in these molecules already we may be able to connect with the great ideas and take these drugs all the way to market." Collins calls the program a "win, win, win" – for investors, pharmaceutical companies and for patients. "I'm hoping out of this comes real advances for people who are waiting for us to come up with answers." Filed under: Health and tech Tagged: Saundra Young – CNN Medical Senior Producer

In 2007 the World Health Organization set a goal to reduce measles deaths by 90% worldwide between 2000 and 2010. Death rates did fall 74% during that time, according to a new report in the British medical journal The Lancet .  But the highly infectious disease is still a major public health concern across the globe, with almost 200,000 new cases reported each year. "A three-quarters drop in measles deaths worldwide shows just how effective well-run vaccination programs can be," said Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general for the World Health Organization. "Now we need to take the next logical step and vaccinate children against rubella too." On Monday, WHO and its partners – the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, United Nations Foundation and the American Red Cross – announced a new plan to stamp out measles and rubella around the world. Extremely contagious, measles is a virus that affects mostly children. Ten to 12 days after being exposed, symptoms usually begin with a high fever that can last up to 7 days. Patients also get a runny nose, cough, white spots inside their mouth, and within days, a rash that spreads over their body. There is no specific treatment according to WHO, and most people recover within a few weeks. But in malnourished children and people with compromised immune systems, measles can cause serious complications like blindness, encephalitis – an infection that causes brain swelling, severe diarrhea and pneumonia. Today it is one of the leading causes of death in children (especially under 5) around the world despite the fact that there is a safe and effective vaccine. Rubella is a mild infection also known as German measles. It's caused by a virus and usually spread through the air or by close contact. Symptoms are much milder than measles, but also include fever and rash. For women in their first trimester of pregnancy however, the disease can cause severe complications including miscarriage, still births and a birth defect called congenital rubella syndrome or CRS. CRS can result in chronic heart problems, blindness and deafness. According to WHO, there are about 112,000 cases of CRS reported annually – all preventable by vaccination. The Measles & Rubella Initiative  is a five-part plan to reduce measles deaths by 95% around the world by 2015 and eliminate both measles and rubella in five WHO regions by 2020. The WHO says those five regions are: The Americas, who reached their goal in 2002; the Western Pacific region, who will reach that goal this year; the Eastern Mediterranean and European regions, who will both reach their goals in 2015; and the African region who plans for elimination in 2020. The Southeast Asian region did not set a target goal. The plan for all regions is to provide greater vaccination coverage with two doses that contain both measles and rubella; better surveillance to monitor and track spread; respond rapidly to outbreaks and monitor cases; enhance community outreach and boost demand for the vaccine and support research and development. "Measles continues to kill children around the world and rubella is the leading infectious cause of congenital malformations in newborn infants – these are avoidable tragedies," said CDC Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden. "This new plan outlines strategies we know work. It's time to partner with key countries to implement the plan in order to save our children from these terrible diseases." Mortality rates dropped from 535,3000 deaths in 2000 to 139,300 in 2010. All of the WHO regions logged drops except Southeast Asia. India had nearly half of all measles deaths globally in 2010.  Africa was close behind with 36% of all deaths. Study authors believe low vaccination rates play a major role in those numbers. "Despite rapid progress in measles control from 2000 to 2007, delayed implementation of accelerated disease control in India and continued outbreaks in Africa stalled momentum towards the 2010 global measles mortality reduction goal," the study authors concluded. "Intensified control measures and renewed political and financial commitment are needed to achieve mortality reduction targets and lay the foundation for future global eradication of measles." Sixty-two countries that don't use the rubella vaccine are being encouraged to use the combined shot. GAVI Alliance, formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, is investing $605 million to make sure developing countries have access to both the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine and the second dose measles vaccine. Still, Kathy Calvin, CEO of the United Nations Foundation said an additional $112 million is needed to reach the measles/rubella goals for 2015. "While this progress is remarkable, it's still not enough, especially when we have the tools to eliminate measles entirely," Calvin said. "A shortfall in funding is preventing us from reaching more children and is currently why we are seeing more outbreaks. We need everyone from individuals to world leaders to step up their commitment if we are to achieve our goal" Dr. Walter Orenstein from the School of Medicine and Emory Vaccine Center at Emory University in Atlanta said the drop in deaths is good news, but the work is far from done. "In 2010, an estimated 139,300 persons died from measles, an average of almost 382 deaths per day. Despite the progress, this is still far too many deaths that could be easily prevented through better use of available measles vaccines." And although virtually eradicated in 2000 here in the United States, sporadic cases still pop up. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported 17 outbreaks and 222 cases of the disease last year. Most of those were infected while traveling abroad. There were no deaths. "Measles is a serious and potentially fatal disease that will return if given the opportunity to do so," said Dr. Rebecca Martin, director of the global immunization division at the CDC.  "This is a large cost to society.  While we may not see the deaths, there is a large cost of hospitalization. We've seen with the outbreaks in Europe and the US how quickly it can happen… It just takes one person on a plane." Filed under: Children’s Health , Infectious diseases Tagged: Saundra Young – CNN Medical Senior Producer

The FDA is casting a skeptical eye on evidence backing a gel being proposed to prevent preterm birth in women with a short cervix. As Dow Jones Newswires reports , one of the agency’s outside advisory panels is due to consider that use of the gel — already approved for certain women undergoing infertility treatments — at a meeting on Friday . A study covering 458 women published last year in the journal Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology found that the gel cut the risk of early preterm delivery by 45% in women with a short cervix compared to placebo. And because the babies were born closer to their due dates, they saw fewer complications. But background info posted by the FDA on the agency’s website yesterday focused on data for the U.S. women in that study, which was conducted at 44 medical centers in 10 countries. Looking at those U.S. women only, the difference between the progesterone gel and placebo groups could have occurred by chance, the FDA said. “The information and data in this application do not support the efficacy of progesterone gel compared with placebo in reducing the risk of preterm births before 33 completed weeks of gestation among women with a short cervical length,” the FDA said in its background document. The gel is developed by Columbia Laboratories and marketed by Watson Pharmaceuticals. Columbia also posted its own document ahead of the meeting. In it, it said that “the U.S. and non-U.S. regions both favored progesterone, although the size of the treatment effect was greater in the non-U.S. regions.” The data showed a “clinically meaningful reduction in preterm birth and evidence for improvement in infant outcome,” Columbia said. In December, a review published online by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology encompassing the earlier study and others highlighted the potential of vaginal progesterone — in both gel and suppository form — to prevent preterm birth in women with a short cervix. That condition is a major risk factor for early delivery. Image: iStockphoto

I keep a stash of Paula Deen ‘s recipes on hand for when I am in the mood for some Southern fare, but I couldn’t eat such a decadent diet all the time. And Paula agrees. She told Al Roker on Today , ” I have always encouraged moderation . I share with you all these yummy, fattening recipes, but I tell people, in moderation . . . it’s entertainment. People have to be responsible. Like I told Oprah, ‘Honey, I’m your cook, not your doctor.’ You have to be responsible for yourself.” Although it’s easy to assume a high-fat, high-calorie, butter-laden diet is to blame, the truth is, experts aren’t exactly sure what causes type 2 diabetes. Age, weight, and activity level are huge factors in a person’s risk, but the most important factor is genetics. The good news is that prevention is in your hands. While foods deep-fried in oil and coated in butter may not specifically cause diabetes, devouring foods like that often can contribute to weight gain, which increases your risk for developing this condition. The best thing you can do is to maintain a healthy weight and to exercise regularly, especially if diabetes runs in your family. Source: Getty , Flickr User delgaudm , and Flickr User star5112 Are you worried about developing type 2 diabetes? Yes, I’m worried about type 2 diabetes. No, I’m not worried one bit.

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar! Quadruple your weight loss by making one easy tweak to your routine per week By Alyssa Shaffer If your goal is to lose weight and exercise more, forget the deprivation diet and marathon workouts. New research shows that taking baby steps – not giant leaps -is the best way to get lasting results. A study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that participants who made one small, potentially permanent change in their food choices and/or physical activity each week (such as drinking one fewer can of soda or walking five more minutes each day) lost more than twice as much belly fat, two and half more inches off their waistlines, and about four times more weight during a four-month program, compared with those who followed traditional calorie-restriction and physical-activity guidelines. “When you focus on just a couple of small changes at a time, you begin to ingrain some healthy habits that last for a lifetime, rather than trying an all-or-nothing approach that more often than not fails because it’s too hard to follow,” says Lesley Lutes, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of psychology at East Carolina University. We’ve uncovered these simple steps (with proven results) to help you move more, eat less, and look and feel better than ever. Add just one or two a week to your regular routine and you can lose nearly three inches off your waistline and be about 10 pounds lighter come in a few months. Even better: Once these healthy habits become second nature, they’ll benefit you for a lifetime. 1. Pick Up a Pen After Every Meal Mindlessly munching on a bag of chips could result in easily polishing off the whole thing; write down how much you’ve eaten and you’re more likely to practice portion control. Keeping a food log helps control extra calories in two ways: the combination of plain old reality check (I just ate 30 minutes ago!) and awareness that what you’re putting in your mouth will soon be recorded for posterity. In a recent study, people who kept a food journal lost twice as much weight as those who didn’t. When they combined it with a moderate diet and exercise plan, they lost an average of 13 pounds in 6 months. Journaling also gives you insight on your eating habits, says Lutes. Do you skip meals? Eat the same during the week as on the weekend? Binge when you’re feeling stressed? “Knowing your routine helps you figure out what changes are right for you,” she adds. Avoid these 14 “health food” diet disasters. 2. Limit High-Fat Foods to One Per Week Tag the high-fat/high-calorie foods that are typically your favorites (our top five: cookies, candy, ice cream, potato chips, and fries) and gradually downshift. “If you’re eating six of these foods a week, try to go down to five,” says Lutes. Each week, drop another until you’re at no more than one or two; at the same time, add in a good-for-you choice like baby carrots, sautéed broccoli, oranges, and other fresh fruits and veggies. Keep reading for more simple tip to help you lose big.

I frequently recommend a carbohydrate restricted diet as part of a comprehensive wellness program. However, for many of my clients, the idea of giving up some of their favorite, high carbohydrate foods is too much to bear. A recent presentation given at a prestigious cancer conference offers a practical compromise. Researchers at the Genesis Prevention Related posts: Dukan Diet Review The Prostate Cancer Diet Rainbow Diet News Questioning The Grapefruit Diet Polypill News and Research

A healthy gut is a happy gut. To keep your intestinal tract in optimal working order, it needs lots of “good” bacteria - no, that is not an oxymoron! There are only three types of basic bacteria in our digestive systems , so boosting the “friendly bacteria” with probiotics can help balance the pH of the intestinal tract, creating a less desirable environment for pathogenic bacteria (the bad stuff). Research has shown that probiotics can help in the battle against a wide variety of medical conditions including: allergies, cholesterol (it helps raise the good kind), colon cancer, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, and diarrhea. Probiotics can also boost your immune system, which is especially important during cold and flu season. Today, probiotic supplements – which often contain members of the lactobacillus and bifidobacterium groups of bacteria – are popular, but unfortunately many of these supplements fall short on bacteria content . But with the help of a few common foods, we can increase the number of beneficial bacteria in our digestive tracts and skip the supplements altogether. Learn these foods when you keep reading.

The vast majority of breast cancer cases occur in women, so it’s only natural that the components of and context for public-health ads about the disease have a connection to that gender. A study recently published by the Journal of Marketing Research, however, questions whether that’s always the best way to go. A series of six experiments demonstrates, the authors say, that emphasizing gender in those ads might actually lower a woman’s perceived risk for breast cancer, make her give less to gender-specific cancer charities and even make her less likely to remember the ads. (Here’s the executive summary and here’s the abstract .) That would fly in the face of conventional wisdom, which holds that targeting women through ads that build on their gender primes them to receive a message about a cancer more likely to affect them than men. But these results suggest that a gender-linked ad triggers a defense mechanism that causes women to unconsciously ignore or downplay the message that may make them feel particularly threatened, Steven Sweldens, an author of the study and an assistant professor of marketing at the business school INSEAD, tells the Health Blog. In one experiment, for example, 37 females were asked to look at a fake breast-cancer ad that conveyed certain facts about the disease. One group saw an ad that was heavy on the color pink, used female faces and included ad copy that said “Hey, woman! Yes, you” before giving the information. The other group included the same exact information, but used more neutral colors (no pink), had no photos of women and started with “Hey you!” After they viewed the ads, women were asked to provide their own personal risk estimates for breast cancer and also for several gender-neutral diseases on a scale of 1 to 7. The women who looked at the pink poster had lower breast-cancer risk estimates than those who looked at the neutral one. There were no differences for the gender-neutral ads. Sweldens says that when a disease poses such a risk to someone’s identity — in this case, being a woman — the defense mechanism can kick in. So it’s more likely to be triggered when the ad emphasizes the connection with womanhood. The findings suggest that “it’s better to have those breast-cancer ads in yellow, or black and white,” says Sweldens. He says not all gender-linked disease campaigns are likely to provoke the same reaction, but that breast cancer is particularly threatening to a woman’s identity Because gender-neutral breast-cancer ads aren’t necessarily practical, this unconscious defense mechanism can be blunted by making women aware of their fear of the disease and also by making them feel better about themselves, the research suggests. That could be done with messages like “You’re important,” or “Think of all the times you’ve helped others,” or “Admit it, you’re afraid of breast cancer,” says Sweldens. “It’s a lot of food for thought,” Leslie Aun, vice president of marketing and communications at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, tells the Health Blog. Komen’s logo includes a pink ribbon, the ubiquitous symbol for breast cancer awareness. Because the ribbon and color are now emblematic of the movement, they’re “not going to change anytime soon,” she says. Aun says her group’s message has always been focused on “action and strength” and on empowering people to do something. To that end, for the first time this October Komen will celebrate breast-cancer action month rather than the usual breast-cancer awareness month. And an upcoming ad campaign will also focus on what women can do, be it get a recommended mammogram, donate or participate in a fundraiser or become an advocate. “People are obviously aware,” says Aun. “The question becomes, “How can you take that pink and get them to do something?” Image: iStockphoto

I’m not complaining. I love Summer weather. The sunshine, warm breezes, birds chirping, and flowers blooming inspire me to head outside for my runs, plus I’m so loving just slipping on shorts and a tank top instead of tons of layers. There are just a couple things that I hate about Summer runs, so if these are bothering you too, here are some ways to deal with them. Bugs flying in my eyes: Why do bugs love eyes so much? It’s so gross. I make sure to always wear sunglasses on my Summer runs, and if I’m trail running or mountain biking, I spritz some bug spray on my clothes to help keep them away. Sweat dripping down my chest: I thought I was alone on this one, so it’s not something I normally would share, but a fellow fit friend said she too hates it when sweat drips down her cleavage. My remedy? I stuff a bunch of tissues down there (no one can tell), and it absorbs the sweat so I don’t feel tickled or itchy. I’m not through venting so keep reading.

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