Progress Made Toward NASH Diagnosis and Drug Discovery

A buildup of fat in the liver could cause an aggressive type of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which is a condition with liver inflammation and damage. Most of the time, it causes no symptoms and no problems, while in some worse cases, the fat causes inflammation and damages liver cells, affecting the normal function of the liver or even leading to cirrhosis. Though the second leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States, NASH has no FDA-approved treatments currently. This is drawing concerns from all stakeholders, including patients and providers, for which experts call for a great deal of focus on understanding and addressing this important liver disease that impacts clinical outcomes and the quality of life.

Diagnosis of NASH

Because NASH are asymptomatic until patients are identified at advanced stages, a liver biopsy remains the gold standard for making early predictive and definitive NASH diagnosis and staging. However, the liver biopsy is an invasive procedure that has several drawbacks, including sampling error, high expense, side effects like pain and bleeding, and the impracticability of performing liver biopsies on all NASH patients. All these unfavorable factors are prompting the technology for developing reliable, precise, and noninvasive NASH diagnostic approaches.

Biomarkers, as noninvasive and reliable alternatives to liver biopsy, contribute to the early diagnosis of NASH by indicating biological characteristics in a normal or pathologic process. Conventional NASH biomarkers like liver enzymes have different drawbacks. And currently, it’s not possible to identify fibrosis and steatosis, to early diagnose NASH, or to predict the disease progression with one biomarker alone single test. There are many novel noninvasive tests are in development, and multi-omics biomarkers, including those focusing on microbiota, seem to be promising if only combinatorial methods were standardized and implemented.

Treatment of NASH

Though no pharmacologic therapy has been approved to treat NASH and clinical advice on treating this disease is more about lifestyle modification based on body weight and exercise, the NASH therapeutic pipeline is robust.

As a matter of fact, there are approximately dozens of projects for NASH drug development with different mechanisms. They are being investigated in various phases of drug development, some of which undoubtedly would come across setbacks but numerous drugs still are showing great promise for the potential to treat NASH. With different endpoints like a histological improvement, NASH resolution, prevention of progression to cirrhosis, and fibrosis stage regression, some NASH drugs are expected to be approved on the basis of relatively short-term studies. However, it’s also pointed out that in the race of developing medical treatment of NASH, lifestyle modification is still the most effective treatment currently available for NASH patients.

Researchers have a positive attitude toward the future of NASH drug approval and look forward to receiving approval for at least one additional serum biomarker in recent years. Also, as NASH is a complex and multiorgan disease involving different mechanisms of action, experts indicated that it would be beneficial to have several approved drugs to tailor different treatments for different patients.

Sensual Toys for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and hopefully any men reading this who are part of a couple have already made plans and invested in some appropriate gifts. But even if the romantic dinner and other plans are all set, maybe there’s an area that hasn’t been investigated yet – such as sensual toys? Valentine’s Day can be a perfect time to explore some sensual toys with a mate – and they can also help to improve a guy’s sensual and male organ health by providing new exercise for his “love muscle.”

Many couples are already into sensual toys and may feel they have all they need in that area. But for those who still have room in their sensual toys chest, or for those just starting out exploring this exciting area of sensual activity, following are some toys they may wish to explore.

• Male organ ring. Start with the basics. For many men, a male organ ring is the go-to “first sensual toy” option. It’s simplicity itself: a ring which fits snugly around the member (or the base of the member and underneath the sacks, depending on the style purchased). Male organ rings impede the flow of blood from the manhood so a member can stay harder longer. They are made from many different materials, including rubber, metal and leather. Some rings come with “bumps” on them, which many women find pleasurable during coupling. Some rings also vibrate, which can be pleasurable for both the man and the woman. In addition, some rings are made with a vibrating “extension” that can more directly stimulate the woman.

• Finger vibrator. Manual stimulation, either before or after penetration, is key to the sensual lives of many couples. Men may want to explore the use of a finger vibrator, which many women find helps create a more intense release than stimulation by finger or hand alone.

• Manhood copier. If a man’s partner truly adores his member, perhaps she would like a copy of it for when he is unavailable? There are a number of DIY kits on the market that enable a man to make a mold of his own tumescent member and use liquid plastic to create a very personalized replica.

• Remote controlled vibrators and plugs. Many vibrators and vibrating posterior plugs now come with remote controls so a partner can determine the amount of stimulation. While this is an especially attractive option for couples who are into submission and domination, many couples who are perfectly happy with “plain vanilla” coupling also get a kick out of these toys – especially if each member of the couple is controlling the other’s vibratory rate.

• Double male organ replica. Many men have found pleasure through posterior stimulation in recent years, especially when their partner has demanded a “turnabout” for being on the receiving end of posterior play. A double male organ replica is designed for penetration of two people at one time, so a man can be stimulated in the posterior at the same time his female partner is pleasured in her female organ.

• Massage oils. Finally, sometimes a couple just wants a low tech accessory – such as simple massage oils. Gentle touches from a partner’s hand are made extra special with oils that add an extra layer of soothing.

Sensual toys aren’t all that a man may want to have handy on Valentine’s Day. A healthy, exuberant manhood is also nice, so he needs to be using a first class male organ health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) regularly. When making a selection, find a crème that contains both L-arginine and L-carnitine. The former is an amino acid that helps boost nitric oxide production, thereby better enabling male organ blood vessels to expand as needed. L-carnitine is another amino acid, one which helps to protect against loss of sensation in a member which is handled too roughly.

Visit http://www.menshealthfirst.com for additional information on most common manhood health issues, tips on improving male organ sensitivity and what to do to maintain a healthy member. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men’s health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous websites.

Top Ways To Save Your Marriage

Saving your marriage is kind of you are going to adopt the changes. Are you ready to change? If your answer is yes then you should read this. Changes happen for goods. For a stronger, healthier, and happier relationship things have to change between you and your partner. Here are some top ways that you can adapt to save your marriage.

1. Accept that you are not a perfect wife or husband. Accepting helps to slow down things and you will get the time to think and process your situation. Work for the perfections.

2. Start adding a little joy to your daily life schedule. Remind each other their good habits besides the things that upset you or take you away from your marriage.

3. Marriage is a type of mutual understanding. Try to understand each other if there happen disputes then work on that and find a resolution or a common ground where you both agree mutually.

4. complaining is kind of the big mistake people make in a relationship. In marriages, people often misunderstood complaining. As we know there is always a hidden message in complain, If you love your partner and wants to save your marriage then process his/her complaint and find the hidden message inside or simply ask.

5. Sometimes you need to compromise in a marriage. Both you and your spouse should be ready to make some adjustments for the other. Compromise saves a lot of marriages.

6. Don’t stop dating as you do at the start. Don’t let the romance die in between of respectability. Plan outdoor activity and you don’t need to alone take your kids or other members but being together for some time will help you to make a strong bond.

Hope all these points will help you to save your marriage. If you think you are not in the position to save your marriage or a relationship then you should connect with a marriage counselor. With the help of marriage counseling, you can save your relationship.