Could a drug made for lung patients help older women have babies? – The Irish News

Egg-freezing 'packages', paid leave for fertility appointments and discounts for IVF: these are among the perks being offered by banks, law firms, supermarkets and other employers as a way to retain and recruit female employees.

But while this support will put fertility treatment within the reach of many more women, it won't necessarily increase their odds of motherhood.

As with natural conception, with IVF (in vitro fertilisation, where an egg is fertilised by sperm in a lab) a reduction in the number and quality of eggs means success rates fall with age.

A woman under 35 has a one-in-three chance of having a baby per round of IVF using her own eggs; by her mid-40s, the odds of success are 4 per cent.

Infertility not being able to conceive despite having regular unprotected sex for a year affects one in seven UK couples.

The emotional rollercoaster of infertility treatment was eloquently highlighted recently by actress Jennifer Aniston, who described spending years "throwing everything" at trying to become a mother.

The 54-year-old said in November last year: "It was a challenging road. I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it." She added that, for her, "the ship has sailed".

But scientists continue to tease out the secrets of women's reproductive health from rejuvenating ageing ovaries to preventing miscarriages to make motherhood more achievable for millions.

Here, we look at some of the most promising options.

One reason a woman's fertility falls with age is that her ovaries release eggs less regularly, starting in her 30s when she still has thousands of eggs left. Tackling this is "one of the biggest challenges in reproductive medicine", says Professor Rebecca Robker, a biomedical scientist at the University of Adelaide.

She recently led a study showing that pirfenidone, a drug used to treat lung fibrosis (where a stiffening of the lung tissue makes it difficult to breathe) can more than double the number of eggs produced by ageing ovaries.

In experiments on 12-month-old mice (equivalent to 35 years in humans), Professor Robker found ovaries become stiffer with age (they had more fibrosis). But when mice were given pirfenidone, it softened the ovaries, making them produce more eggs than untreated mice, the journal Science Advances reported last year.

Researchers believe fibrosis 'traps' eggs in the ovaries, preventing their growth and release and pirfenidone gives them room to expand and break free.

Professor Robker said: "We might anticipate that an anti-fibrosis treatment would provide a woman of advanced reproductive age a greater chance of producing any eggs, as well as a chance of producing more than one."

She hopes to start clinical trials of these drugs in future.

Could an injection of a woman's own blood make later-in-life motherhood easier to achieve?

Doctors at Lubeck University, Germany, are investigating whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) blood processed to be extra-rich in platelets, which are cells involved in clotting and blood vessel repair can 'wake up' resting eggs in women in their late 30s and early 40s.

"Age-related infertility is one of the most pressing problems in reproductive medicine," says Georg Griesinger, a professor of reproductive medicine, leading the trial. "As IVF doctors, we frequently encounter older patients who only produce one or two oocytes [eggs] or none. The only option for these women is to use oocytes from a donor, but many want to have a child that is genetically theirs."

PRP is already used in other areas of medicine, including orthopaedics it's thought that proteins released by the platelets speed up healing of damaged tendons. Now, doctors are studying whether these proteins can also activate immature eggs, coaxing them into maturing so more eggs can be collected before IVF.

Early studies of the technique in Greece have been promising, with women who have gone through the menopause becoming pregnant after treatment.

In a new trial, 140 women will have a teaspoonful of PRP or a placebo injected into their ovaries. The number of eggs they then produce will be counted, with the first results due next year.

If the treatment is effective, it is simple enough for widespread use and could cost less than 900 a patient, says Professor Griesinger.

"Platelet-rich plasma isn't without promise," adds Grace Dugdale, a reproductive biologist and founder of preconception website Balance Fertility. "However, the results so far are mixed and there are also potential safety concerns, including whether it might increase the risk of cancer."

A new drug aims to overcome one of the main IVF hurdles: implantation failure.

In IVF, the egg is fertilised in the lab, creating an embryo, then transferred to the woman's womb.

The embryo needs to implant in the womb lining (endometrium) to continue growing. But in more than half of IVF cycles the embryo doesn't implant properly, so the woman either doesn't become pregnant or quickly miscarries. Currently, there are no drugs to improve implantation.

A new treatment from Spanish biotech company Oxolife aims to boost implantation rates by improving the structure of the endometrium and its blood supply, providing the embryo with oxygen and nutrients. In animal trials the drug, OXO-001, increased implantation rates by up to 15 per cent, according to unpublished results.

A small-scale trial on women showed the tablets were safe; they are now being trialled on 350 women undergoing IVF. The women will take either OXO-001 or placebo tablets daily before and after embryo transfer, with pregnancy rates compared.

The first results are due next month: 75 babies have already been born to women taking part in the trial, although it's not yet known how many of these took the active drug.

The company website states OXO-001 "acts directly on the endometrium to enhance and improve the embryo implantation process", although the exact mechanism is undisclosed.

"The endometrium is like a nest that receives the embryo and if that nest isn't well prepared, implantation will not take place," says Dr Agnes Arbat, a doctor and clinical pharmacologist and Oxolife's CEO. "Clinicians tell us they'd be more than happy with a 3 per cent increase in implantation rates. Based on the data we have, we're hoping for 5-7 per cent."

Grace Dugdale says: "Implantation failure is an issue in IVF there are definitely times when a good embryo inexplicably fails to implant. There are lots of causes and, while we don't know exactly how this drug works, new treatments are definitely needed."

Doctors are increasingly interested in the role of the vaginal microbiome the delicate balance of 'good' and 'bad' bacteria in the vagina in fertility. The theory is that if 'bad' bacteria overgrow, they can travel to the womb, hampering implantation chances.

A 2016 study in Denmark of IVF patients found women whose vaginal microbiomes were 'out of balance' (where harmful bacteria start to outnumber the beneficial ones) had just a 9 per cent chance of getting pregnant, compared to 44 per cent of those with normal microbiomes. (An imbalanced vaginal microbiome is very common, occurring in 20 per cent of the general population and 30 per cent of IVF patients, often without symptoms.)

Now researchers at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark are testing whether a probiotic powder packed with 'good' bacteria can boost a woman's chances of becoming a mother. Almost 350 women with an abnormal vaginal microbiome have received the treatment with preliminary results due in weeks.

Professor Glenn Gibson, a microbiologist at Reading University, says: "This research on the vaginal microbiome is being well carried out and its results could have large implications for IVF and resulting pregnancy rates."

The ability to grow large quantities of a woman's eggs in the lab could lead to a kinder form of IVF, say Edinburgh University scientists. An early IVF step is egg stimulation (a woman injects herself daily with fertility hormones for ten to 12 days to increase the number of eggs she produces).

Side-effects include breast tenderness, bloating, nausea and mood swings, and a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which causes the ovaries to swell painfully.

Up to a third of women undergoing IVF have mild OHSS; one in 100 develop moderate or severe OHSS, which is potentially fatal. The hormone injections are also expensive potentially adding 1,000 to the bill for an IVF cycle. Courses may need to be repeated. The new approach could bypass this.

"Women are born with a large store of immature eggs," says researcher Evelyn Telfer, a professor of reproductive biology at Edinburgh.

"They ovulate only 0.1 per cent of them; the other 99.9 per cent degenerate and die. We're working on a way of preserving these immature eggs and growing them outside the body."

In 2018, Edinburgh researchers became the first in the world to grow human eggs to maturity in the lab thanks to a discovery that a certain level of tension in ovarian tissue helps keep eggs in their immature state; relaxing the tissue kick-starts development. They have now started studies in sheep to check if the offspring from lab-grown eggs are healthy.

Successful animal studies could mean the first women could be treated in five to 10 years. In future, instead of undergoing the stress and expense of multiple rounds of hormone injections to produce eggs for IVF, women could have a sliver of one of their ovaries removed through keyhole surgery.

The immature eggs would then be triggered into growing in the lab, with one small piece of tissue potentially yielding thousands of eggs more than enough for their IVF needs.

Sarah Norcross, director of the fertility charity Progress Educational Trust, says: "Although this is some way off, the principle of being able to generate greater numbers of eggs is really exciting.

"Anything that reduces the grim regimen of hormone injections that women have to go through as part of IVF would be welcomed by a lot of them."

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Could a drug made for lung patients help older women have babies? - The Irish News

What is ‘male pattern baldness’? – Livescience.com

Androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness (MPB), is the most common cause of hair loss in men. It begins as a receding hairline or bald spot on the top of the head, progressing over time to the sides and rear of the head. The factors that drive this type of hair loss can also cause hair thinning, where hairs grow smaller in diameter, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (opens in new tab) (AAD).

Male pattern baldness affects males of all ages. Two-thirds of American men will experience some degree of hair loss due to MPB by age 35, and approximately 25% of men begin the process before they reach age 21, according to the American Hair Loss Association (opens in new tab) (AHLA).

People may lose their hair for many reasons, including serious diseases, reactions to certain medications, and in rare cases, extremely stressful events, but most hair loss in men can be ascribed to genetic and hormonal factors. However, the exact mechanisms behind male pattern baldness aren't fully understood, and it is likely to have more than one cause.

People with MPB tend to carry genes that make their hair follicles highly sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone, according to AHLA (opens in new tab). An enzyme called Type 2 5-alpha-reductase converts a small percentage of the body's testosterone into DHT; this enzyme can be found in various body parts, as well as in hair follicles. Hair follicles around the temples, mid-anterior scalp and hairline appear to be most sensitive to DHT, and in general, balding scalp may have a higher concentration of DHT than non-balding scalp, according to a 2020 study published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology (opens in new tab).

DHT binds to androgen receptors on hair follicles, causing the follicles to shrink and their life spans to shorten. Eventually, these hair follicles stop producing hair.

Hair follicles in balding scalp may carry more androgen receptors (opens in new tab) than those in non-balding scalp. In addition, certain genetic variations in the androgen receptor (AR) gene may make hair follicles more susceptible to the effects of DHT (opens in new tab), which in turn increases the risk of MPB. The age at which MPB starts may also be determined by genetic variations (opens in new tab) in the AR gene.

In a 2017 study published in the journal Nature Communications (opens in new tab), scientists analyzed genetic profiles of 10,846 participants and found that, in addition to genes involved in the hair growth cycle, androgenetic alopecia may also be linked to genes involved in the sleep-wake cycle and the formation of fat cells within the body.

Changes in the activity of stem cells may also play a role in male pattern baldness. For example, a 2020 study in mice suggests that hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) in aging skin show different gene activity (opens in new tab) than those in young skin, and this may be linked to declines in hair growth. In addition, stem cells derived from fat tissue in the scalp tend to secrete more inflammatory proteins in balding areas than in non-balding areas, according to a 2022 study published in the journal Experimental Dermatology (opens in new tab). Such inflammatory markers have been linked to impaired activity in genes involved in hair growth (opens in new tab).

Researchers have also found that disrupted functioning of testosterone receptors (opens in new tab) in the scalp may lead to the degeneration of blood vessels that nourish hair follicles. This can result in a reduction in supply of oxygen and nutrients necessary for hair growth.

Hair loss can often be treated with a variety of at-home treatments, including over-the-counter and prescribed medications, according to AAD (opens in new tab).

Over-the-counter minoxidil (brand name Rogaine) can help during the early stages of hair loss. Many people see some regrowth when using this medication, but it may take about six to 12 months to see results. Minoxidil appears to be particularly effective when used along with another treatment, such as microneedling, a type of treatment that uses small needles to cause tiny punctures in the skin, AAD said.

Microneedling may stimulate hair follicle growth (opens in new tab) and allow topical treatments, such as steroid creams, to reach deeper layers of the scalp. Available evidence suggests that this strategy is safe and effective for MPB, but more large, gold-standard clinical trials are "strongly recommended to provide more definitive evidence," according to a 2022 review published in the journal Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (opens in new tab).

Prescription medication, such as finasteride (brand name Propecia) can also stimulate hair growth, according to AAD. However, this medication carries a risk of side effects that minoxidil doesn't, such as decreased libido and changes in cognition, including brain fog, according to a 2012 review published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine (opens in new tab).

Other procedures to regrow hair involve injections of corticosteroids into the bald areas, hair transplants and platelet-rich plasma treatment, a procedure that involves injecting blood plasma into the area with hair loss, AAD said. Platelet-rich plasma treatment, in particular, is considered a safe and effective alternative to hair loss medications, because it carries a low risk of serious side effects (opens in new tab).

In addition, there are surgical treatments available for hair loss, including hair transplants and scalp reductions, which involve removing balding tissue from the scalp, according to Stanford Medicine (opens in new tab).

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Andrew Painter has UCL sprain, will be shut down for four weeks – The Morning Call

CLEARWATER, Fla. The long-awaited Phillies medical update on Andrew Painter arrived Friday, and its not the best news. It also isnt the worst.

Painter has a sprain in his ulnar collateral ligament, and the 19-year-old prospect will rest for four weeks to see if he can avoid Tommy John surgery.

Painter had an MRI-arthrogram March 3 which revealed what manager Rob Thomson took pains to call a mild sprain. That diagnosis by team doctors was confirmed in a consultation with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the surgeon who performed Bryce Harpers Tommy John procedure in November.

Obviously, its a bummer, Painter told media at BayCare Ballpark. You want to stay healthy, but at the end of the day, weve got to do whats right for the long-term. Its a long season. Weve got to take the precautions now and make sure Im healthy for the middle and the end of the year.

The sprain means a degree of stretching and/or minor tear in the ligament. Severe tears require reconstruction, which is the Tommy John procedure.

Like Harper, who tore the UCL in his right elbow last year, the Phillies will try to rest Painter to see if it heals, then re-evaluate him as he begins a light throwing program. The four weeks are from the date of his last outing, March 1. The treatment plan does not include platelet-rich plasma injections, which Harper had last year in his unsuccessful bid to avoid going under the knife.

Painter reported a tender feeling one day after his outing against Minnesota. He said nothing felt amiss during that start. Finalizing a diagnosis has taken a week, a process of patience for Painter.

Its been interesting, he said. Theres been a lot of concerns and weve been waiting a little bit. But Ive been fine. I havent been too worried about it. With our medical staff and everyones that had a say in this, theyre very experienced and they know what theyre doing.

All things considered, Thomson feels OK with the diagnosis. UCL strains dont automatically lead to Tommy John one example is Aaron Nola, who was shut down in August 2016 with a low-grade UCL strain. He avoided surgery and has become an All-Star workhorse since.

Nola sought out Painter when he heard about the younger pitchers issues last week and shared his experience, which included eight weeks off (it was the end of the season) and a PRP injection.

Hes 19. Nineteen-year-old bodies heal a lot quicker than 29-year-old bodies nowadays, Nola said. I pray for him, I hope everything works out, hope he doesnt have to get surgery, hope he heals really quick and its nothing super big.

This is a common thing, Painter said. Other people have experienced this. They know what were doing is right.

Painter is the Phillies top prospect and ranked by MLB.com as the sixth best in baseball. He went 6-2 with a 1.48 ERA last year in Single A and Double A, striking out 155 batters and walking 25 in 103.2 innings. He had been competing for the fifth spot in the rotation.

Given his age and potential, its possible this could help the Phillies later in the season. Painter will be on an innings limit so early in his career, and innings he misses in April might be available come September and (the Phillies hope) October.

For the rest of spring, Painter will be positioning himself for when hes able to throw again.

Its just staying on top of the recovery process and make sure I do everything in my power to make sure this recovery goes as well as planned, he said. And then just try to get on the mound whenever the time is right.

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Andrew Painter has UCL sprain, will be shut down for four weeks - The Morning Call

Osteoarthritis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments – Verywell Health

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent type of arthritis. It occurs when the smooth, slippery cartilage that coats the endings of bones begins to deteriorate at a joint (where two bones meet). This wear and tear can increase friction, bone spurring, pain, and stiffness.

Though OA can develop at any joint, it is most common in the hands, spine, knees, hips, and feet.

This article will outline the most common causes, symptoms, and treatments for osteoarthritis.

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When two bones meet, a joint forms. A smooth, slippery coatingcalled cartilagecoats the endings of bones and helps one glide against the other.

Several hallmark symptoms are typically seen with osteoarthritis. Some of the most common are:

In addition, several specific signs may present depending on which joint is affected. This includes:

Many people hear that a lifetime of physical activity or exercise can develop osteoarthritis in their bones and joints. However, a recent review dispelled this myth and found moderate physical activity does not cause OA to develop. Instead, it identified several other potential causes, including:

Many OA risk factors may potentially elevate your likelihood of developing osteoarthritis. These include:

The research establishing these risk factors is still in progress. Speak to a healthcare provider about your specific situation and any personal risk factors that may need modifying.

Preventing osteoarthritis from progressing or becoming symptomatic may be possible if you address some of the conditions risk factors. Some strategies that may benefit you include:

There are significant differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. For example:

There are significant differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

As previously mentioned, osteoarthritis occurs after wear and tear cause a bones cartilage to deteriorate at a joint. This increases friction, excessive bony buildup, and pain or soreness. OA commonly affects weight-bearing joints (like the hips or knees) and frequently occurs on only one side of the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease that causes your bodys immune system to attack its joint tissue. This tissue damage frequently leads to pain, swelling, and inflammation. RA most commonly impacts smaller joints, like those in the hands or feet, and is usually seen simultaneously on both sides of the body.

To accurately diagnose osteoarthritis, a healthcare provider usually performs a comprehensive evaluation. During this process, they will examine the affected joint(s) and take a personal history of your symptoms.

They may also obtain an X-ray to provide a clear image of the joint in question. This test can show damage to your bone, bone spurring, and any loss of space within the affected joint.

Finally, they can order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if they suspect concurrent damage to the muscles, ligaments, tendons, or other soft tissue structures.

Depending on the severity of your arthritis symptoms, they may suggest several different treatment strategies. The most common are outlined below.

Pain relievers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) medications are frequently recommended to help treat OA pain and inflammation. Pain-relieving creams, rubs, or sprays may also help. Occasionally, a stronger corticosteroid may need to be taken orally or injected into the joint to alleviate a severe OA aggravation.

One of the biggest lifestyle changes you can make to impact your OA symptoms is maintaining a healthy body weight. Losing excess weight can:

Staying active with an exercise program focusing on strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness is another cornerstone of OA self-care. A healthcare provider can guide safe ways to begin a new fitness regimen. They may also refer you to physical therapy for more structured guidance on appropriate osteoarthritis exercise techniques.

In severe cases of OA, surgery may be necessary. This is especially true if more conservative treatments fail to relieve your symptoms.

Depending on the affected area, this may involve a joint replacement (arthroplasty) or a joint fusion (arthrodesis) procedure. Occasionally, osteotomy surgery may also be recommended. This operation involves removing a piece of bone to alleviate pressure on the arthritic portion of the joint.

In some situations, a brace can reduce some of your osteoarthritis pain.

Most commonly utilized for knee arthritis, braces can:

Similar devices may also be recommended for osteoarthritis in your fingers, wrists, ankles, or elbows. Though bracing an arthritic area will not prevent OA from advancing, it may provide short-term enhancements to your day-to-day function and diminish some of your pain.

Several other treatments may help you manage your osteoarthritis pain.

Because platelets play a role in regenerating tissue and controlling inflammation, some have recommended platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for OA. Unfortunately, the research on this intervention is still mixed. Currently, there is low-level evidence showing that PRP injections may provide short- and medium-term pain relief for osteoarthritis.

Stem cell therapy has also been proposed as a potential management strategy. Stem cells are thought to help regenerate cartilage and reduce inflammation levels. Unfortunately, the evidence supporting this treatment is also still mixed. Several low-quality studies found reduced evidence of osteoarthritis and diminished pain levels after receiving this treatment. More research in this area is still necessary, however.

There is currently no evidence-based treatment that reverses osteoarthritis. That said, the presence of OA on an X-ray does not necessarily mean that you will have symptoms. It is possible to have osteoarthritis and minimal to no pain.

By staying active, maintaining a healthy body weight, taking medications as prescribed, and wearing braces if recommended, you may be able to keep pain levels low while continuing with the activities you love.

Osteoarthritis usually progresses slowly and gets worse as time goes on. As the cartilage in a joint thins, friction increases with movement and triggers bone spurs. This bone adds to the irregularity of the joint surface and begins to cause inflammation, swelling, and pain.

Though these symptoms may be mild and infrequent at first, over time, the pain from severe osteoarthritis may become more intense and constant. Other factors like heavy loading of the affected joint and excessive body weight can also accelerate this process.

To remain active and maintain a healthy body weight in spite of osteoarthritis, try following these steps:

OA can cause severe pain and significantly limit overall mobility if inadequately treated. This shift to a more sedentary lifestyle may also lead to the development of other health conditions like obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

Fortunately, many cases of osteoarthritis are effectively managed with the conservative treatments listed above. Working closely with a healthcare provider can help avoid these potential side effects and ensure a better long-term outlook.

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Osteoarthritis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments - Verywell Health

Owen Warner visits hair clinic to ‘prevent going down route of Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson’ – The Mirror

Hollyoaks actor Owen , who portrays Romeo Nightingale in the Channel 4soap opera, travelled to the hair clinic in Hale, Manchester after worrying about his 'receding' hairline

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! finalist Owen Warner has joked he "doesnt want to go down the route of Hollywood celebrities like Vin Diesel or Dwayne The Rock Johnson" after visiting the British Hair Clinic.

The 23-year-old became a fans' favourite on the popular ITV reality show when he came runner-up behind England Lioness Jill Scott as I'm A Celeb returned to the New South Wales jungle for the first time in three years due to coronavirus.

The Hollyoaks actor, who portrays Romeo Nightingale in the Channel 4 soap opera, travelled to the hair clinic in Hale, Manchester after worrying about his 'receding' hairline despite still having a full head of thick brown hair.

Speaking in a video posted on British Hair Clinic's Instagram page, which has more than 12,400 followers, Owen said: "Hair transplant is a big process to go through and I thought why not prevent it for as long as I can, make my head healthy, thick hair on the top of my head, just prevention really.

"It's like stopping something before it could possibly go a certain way."

He added that he "doesnt want to go down the route of Hollywood celebrities like Vin Diesel or Dwayne The Rock Johnson who are completely bald, it suits them but not sure it would work for me!"

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Owen underwent Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections which can effectively prevent hair loss and promote new hair growth.

He joins a host of celebrities who have used British Hair Clinic to manage their hair issues. Former England rugby union captain Dylan Hartley, boxer Conor Benn and reality TV stars such as Towie's Kirk Norcross have all had treatment done at the clinic including hair transplants.

Owen's ex-girlfriend and former Hollyoaks star Stephanie Davis underwent a female hair transplant at the British Hair Clinic.

He continued: "I need to keep the hair thinning on hold. Im young and as an actor who plays certain roles so I need to maintain a youthful appearance.

"Im conscious about my hair just as I am about my general health, better to be healthy and have a good head of hair than to be unhealthy and bald, especially if health and hair can be maintained.

"Its important to be proactive as an actor and not let your appearance deteriorate as essentially our talent and looks help us get the roles we need."

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Owen Warner visits hair clinic to 'prevent going down route of Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson' - The Mirror

Osteoarthritis of the knee: How Temple Health is helping ease knee … – WPVI-TV

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- For millions of people, arthritis of the knees causes frequent pain and limits their lives.

Yet they're often afraid of joint replacement surgery.

A Philadelphia man says getting over his reservations put him back on the road again.

Lester Frisby of Juniata Park admits he was a crazy kid.

"We used to jump out of the second flood window onto mattresses," Frisby recalls.

And his knees paid the price.

"The body doesn't forget what you put it through," he notes.

Dr. Mark Desmond, a Temple Health orthopaedic surgeon, says osteoarthritis develops when cartilage - the cushion between the upper and lower leg bones - gets damaged over time.

"And sometimes it gets so worn, that there's none left, and there's only bone rubbing on bone, which can be very painful," Dr. Desmond says.

"My pain level was easy 7 to 10 every day," Frisby says.

Dr. Desmond says the first treatments for knee osteoarthritis try to make people comfortable with what they have.

Losing weight, over-the-counter medications, braces, and changing exercises can cut stress on the knees.

"Instead of running, consider cycling. If you can swim, swimming is great exercise. It's low-impact, no-impact. There are ellipticals and other knee-sparing exercises," says Dr. Desmond.

Physical therapy can help, too.

"To strengthen the muscles around the joint can really actually decrease some of the abnormal forces," he notes.

Injections are usually the next step: cortisone or other steroids first, later a gel lubricant that mimics the cushioning effect of cartilage.

Studies show three treatments of PRP, platelet-rich plasma, often ease pain.

When 30 years of knee injections stopped working, his doctor said knee replacement was the only option left.

"You can live the rest of your life always having trouble with your knees or you can live the rest of your 70s, 80s, and 90s pain-free," Frisby recalls his doctor saying.

Dr. Desmond eased Frisby's worries about surgery.

"He made me feel so good, that the first thing that came outta my mouth was - how soon can we do it?" he says with a broad smile

Hours after having both knees replaced last October, Frisby wasn't just up, he was walking around the hospital, finally free of that grinding pain.

"They had to slow me down," he laughs.

And he waves off reservations some have on getting two knees at once. "One surgery, one rehab."

Frisby is back to his job driving rideshare and delivering auto parts.

And boy, is he ready for spring!

"I can't wait to get on my motorcycle. I haven't been on it for 3 years," he says happily.

"The majority of people are very happy with their results," adds Dr. Desmond.

Dr. Desmond says acupuncture gave his mother three years of pain relief before she needed a joint replacement. So he encourages patients to check out all the avenues they can.

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Osteoarthritis of the knee: How Temple Health is helping ease knee ... - WPVI-TV

New Haven doctor uses healing injections so patients can avoid surgery – WTNH.com

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Every year, many people undergo surgery for problems with their joints.

Paul Gebauer was almost one of them. Gebauer, a 60-year-old from Clinton, was in extreme pain from an issue involving his shoulder.

I was diagnosed with a torn tendon in my shoulder, he said.

Thanks to his wifes research, he found New Haven orthopaedic surgeon Phillip Luchini of Luchini Orthopaedic, who performs in in-office procedure to relieve joint pain.

The procedure uses something called platelet rich plasma or PRP. It is not like a cortisone shot which just eases pain. PRP actually uses bloods own plasma to heal from within.

A patients blood is put into a centrifuge, which separates out the plasma. The plasma is then injected into the patients trouble area under ultrasound guidance.

The platelets release their growth factors, and then that jumpstarts the natural healing process in the body, Luchini said.

Areas that can be treated with PRP include shoulders, elbows, hips, wrists, knees, ankles and arthritic joints.

This is another modality we can use to avoid surgical treatment in many cases, Luchini said.

It worked in one try for Paul, who was in so much pain he was ready to undergo surgery if needed.

It was a little sore for like a day or two, but then over a matter of like a week or so, it was like holy cow, its all better, Gebauer said.

He can now do the simple things again that he once took for granted including playing tennis with his daughter.

The procedure itself is not covered by insurance. Costs start at $500. It does not work on everyone, and some people need multiple treatments.

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New Haven doctor uses healing injections so patients can avoid surgery - WTNH.com

A Urologist’s Guide to Safely Increasing the Length and Girth of Your … – San Francisco Bay Times

By Judson Brandeis, M.D.

As a board-certified urologist, Ive seen a growing demand for penis enlargement procedures. Men of all ages and backgrounds have come to me seeking solutions for what they perceive as inadequate penis size. While the desire for a larger penis is understandable, the available medical options have significant drawbacks. Temporary cosmetic fillers and surgical procedures are expensive, risky, and often provide unsatisfactory results.

Penile enlargement surgery involves cutting ligaments or using implants to add length and girth to the penis. Surgery costs range from $15,000 to $25,000 and involve significant risks. Complications include infection, bleeding, and scarring, as well as erectile dysfunction and loss of sensation. Additionally, surgery results can be unpredictable, and some men end up with a deformed or unsatisfactory penis shape.

Another option for penile enlargement, cosmetic fillers, involves injecting materials such as hyaluronic acid, silicone, or polyacrylamide gel into the penis to increase girth. While the results are immediate, the fillers are temporary and require repeated injections every year or two. Furthermore, the fillers can cause significant complications, such as granulomas (small nodules at the site of an infection or inflammation), penile distortion, and foreign body reactions. The cost of fillers can range from $5,000 to $15,000, depending on how much filler is used.

These risks and expenses associated with traditional penis enlargement options are why I am excited to share information about the P-Long Protocol with you. P-Long is the first and only clinically proven protocol that naturally increases the length and girth of the penis without the need for surgery or temporary fillers. P-Long combines traction therapy, stretching exercises, AFFIRM circulation boosting supplement, and platelet growth factors in achieving natural and permanent penis enlargement.

I developed the P-Long Protocol in response to the low level of satisfaction with current penis enlargement options. We wanted to create a safe, effective, and affordable solution that allows men to achieve their desired penis size without the drawbacks of surgery and fillers.

The P-Long Protocol involves a combination therapy, including monthly doses of platelet-rich plasma and daily traction therapy, stretching exercises, and the AFFIRM nitric oxide boosting supplement. Men wear traction and suction therapy devices for a little more than an hour a day to gently stretch the penile tissue in both length and girth. The traction and stretching exercises are designed to improve the length and girth of the penis, the platelet-rich plasma accelerates the effects of the suction and traction, and the AFFIRM supplement boosts nitric oxide levels, which enhances circulation that delivers oxygen and nutrients to the growing phallus.

A recent clinical trial of the P-Long Protocol showed impressive results. Over six months, participants in the study experienced an average increase of almost a full inch in length and an average of half an inch in girth. They also reported improved sexual function without any adverse side effects or downtime.

The P-Long Protocol offers many advantages over traditional penis enlargement options. Firstly, it is a natural and long-lasting solution that doesnt involve surgery or temporary fillers. Secondly, it is a safe option that doesnt carry the risks and high costs associated with surgery and fillers. Finally, it offers improved erectile function and size, as shown by clinical studies.

The good news: P-Long is now available to the public nationwide and offered by medically-trained experts.

As a urologist, I believe the P-Long Protocol offers a better and safer solution for men seeking penis enlargement. Thats why I have created a complimentary guide that offers accurate information on male enhancement, which can be downloaded at https://p-long.com/download

Judson Brandeis, M.D., is a board-certified urologist in private practice in the East Bay for over 20 years. He was chief of urology at John Muir Hospital and Hills Physicians Medical Group for over a decade. From 20142020, he was voted Top Urologist in the Bay Area by San Francisco Magazine. After earning degrees from Brown University and Vanderbilt Universitys Medical School, he spent a year at Harvard Medical School doing research sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He finished his formal medical training with 2 years of general surgery and 4 years of urology training at the UCLA Department of Urology. In 2019, he opened his office in San Ramon, where he focuses his practice entirely on mens sexual health and rejuvenation. For more information: https://brandeismd.com/

Published on March 9, 2023

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A Urologist's Guide to Safely Increasing the Length and Girth of Your ... - San Francisco Bay Times

MLB’s All-M*A*S*H team: How teams cope with spring losses – Sportsnaut

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Toronto Blue Jays young superstar, left Fridays exhibition game after injuring his knee on the basepaths. A few days before that, Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux suffered an even worse knee injury running the bases.

On Monday, Boston Red Sox third baseman Justin Turner was hit in the face with a pitch and rushed to the hospital.

And just like that, the upbeat, dulcet tones of MLB spring training turned sour for three teams with October in their sights.

Thats how quickly vibes and fortunes can flip in spring training, regardless of how well those teams and others are prepared with quality depth at those or any other positions.

Its also how quickly reminders arise every spring of the top three things every team in baseball tries to accomplish every year at this time:

1. Be healthy.

2. Get healthy.

3. Stay healthy.

To wit: Ultimately, I want to come out of this with everybody healthy, Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young told the Dallas Morning News regarding new ace Jacob deGrom and the rest of his staff. I also realize that may not be realistic. But with our depth, I think were in a better spot now.

Everyone feels good coming in. And I want them to feel good coming out.

Cut and paste those comments about 29 times, and you have an accurate account from every teams top baseball boss.

A lot gets made of who wins the offseason every year second only in hype, perhaps, to who wins the actually season. But when it comes to that part about the actual season, who wins the spring tends to be the most underrated part of the equation. And winning the spring is all about surviving it intact.

And if you dont believe that, just take a look at the starting lineup and playoff rotation that can be put together with players who have already suffered injuries in camps across Florida and Arizona this spring most of them likely costing the players injured-list stints to open the season and more than one threatening their entire seasons.

Wong is not exactly a household name among most baseball fans, but the Red Sox are not exactly blessed with catching depth, either. So for a team that won a World Series as recently as 2018 and was in the playoffs just two years ago, the hamstring injury to a projected platoon regular is problematic at least. It doesnt appear severe, but the team doesnt have a timeline for the injury.

The former MVP runner-up seems to have escaped serious enough injury to land on the IL at the end of the month. But hes taking his recovery slowly at this point, and he withdrew from the World Baseball Classic over it, costing Dominican World Baseball Classic roster one of its best players.

A badly dislocated shoulder suffered the first week of Cactus League play is serious enough to require surgery and will likely cost the Gold Glove winner and All-Star hopeful the entire 2023 season. Its a huge blow to the already marginal hopes of the Rockies.

Hit in the face with a pitch Monday by Tigers right-hander Matt Manning, the immediate prognosis for Turner after being examined at the hospital was mostly good, with 16 stitches needed and a lot of swelling but no apparent broken bones. Best case scenario: It ultimately turns out to be more scare than significant injury, more mental than physical for one of baseballs tougher-minded players, who walked off the field on his own after the blow, holding a towel to his face.

A torn ACL means the 2023 season is over for Gavin Lux, the former top organizational prospect who was handed the unenviable task of trying to replace All-Star shortstop Trea Turner after Turner departed for Philadelphia (and $300 million). The Dodgers, coming off a 111-win season with the big-spending San Diego Padres breathing down their necks, have Miguel Rojas plugged in for now as they continue to evaluate options for the season.

The versatile outfielder with two-way talent as a burgeoning everyday player was positioned to make an impact for a team that missed the playoffs last year by one game after a badly sprained right elbow has forced him to be shut down for at least half of spring training. He received platelet-rich plasma injections in the elbow, and according to reports from Arizona, hes expected to miss at least the first month of the season.

A low grade oblique strain finally shut down the projected Opening Day centerfielder and former top organizational prospect on Monday for seven to 10 days putting his status for the opener in jeopardy. It could be a big blow early for a team with big plans for a 2023 turnaround, little margin for error in a division with Houston and Seattle and not a ton of depth at the position.

Last years $99.6 million rookie from Japan was forced to skip the World Baseball Classic and looks likely to miss the first week or two of the season dealing with an oblique strain that has prevented him from playing any games so far this spring. Last years NL Rookie of the Month for April put on 20 pounds of good weight in the offseason to leverage what he learned about the grueling differences between the Nippon Professional Baseball and MLB schedules.

A broken left big toe from a weight-room accident has will delay the start to the All-Star right-handers season and has the loaded Padres mulling whether to continue with the six-man rotation plans they had before the injury. Meanwhile, Musgrove is pulling out all stops, including spending two hours a day in a hyperbaric chamber. Ill try anything, he told the San Diego Union-Tribune. Anything, even if it knocks a day or two off.

A grade 2 oblique strain suffered early in camp is the latest injury to befall the talented right-hander, who finally appeared poised for a healthy season after missing all but two starts last year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. This one is considered a six- to eight-week injury and a big blow to a perennial playoff team even one with more talent and depth on its staff than in some recent years.

Gordon Wittenmyer, MLB expert and former beat writer for NBC Sports Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times. Get Gordons latest Sportsnaut Exclusive today!

The former All-Star left his last start with soreness in his left side that testing determined was caused by a small stress fracture in his fifth rib. He withdrew from the WBC (Team Colombia) and left Florida for New York for more testing. The pennant-contending Mets did not suggest a timeline for the injury.

Right elbow tenderness has shut down one of the top prospects in the game and ended one of the most intriguing stories of the spring reports from Clearwater, Florida, suggesting the powerful 19-year-olds chances for earning the fifth-starter job in camp are likely over. For now the hope around the defending NL champs is that Andrew Painters injury isnt serious or long-term.

Gordon Wittenmyer covers Major League Baseball for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @GDubCub.

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MLB's All-M*A*S*H team: How teams cope with spring losses - Sportsnaut

What’s A Laser Hair Cap And Do They Really Work? – Glam

According to Torkian Facial Plastic Surgery, a laser hair cap is fundamentally a low-level laser therapy (LLLT) which, when worn over your head, emits red light directly to your scalp to encourage cell growth and regenerate hair follicles. As noted in a study published in the International Journal of Trichology, when the emitted photons penetrate the scalp, they stimulate adenosine triphosphate production in dormant hair follicles, jolting them out of the resting phase and into the growth phase to facilitate hair growth.

The absorption of the laser light into the hair follicle also increases microcirculation, enabling the hair to linger in the growing phase for longer and preventing hair shedding. The treatment is completely pain-free, user-friendly, and usually lasts for about half an hour on average. Laser hair caps are available in a variety of fashionable forms, such as helmets, baseball caps, and headbands. To the average eye, the cap can look just like any regular baseball hat, when in reality, it's radiating energy and supercharging your scalp.

According to the New Jersey Hair Restoration Center, laser hair caps have earned the FDA approval as a laser phototherapy device for treatment of hair loss and stimulation of new, thicker hair growth. Studies suggest that they can treat androgenetic alopecia, a common form of hair loss.

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What's A Laser Hair Cap And Do They Really Work? - Glam