A new gel-based vasectomy has proven effective in a group of monkeys, raising hopes it could one day provide a permanent but easily reversible male contraceptive option in humans. Vasalgel works by plugging the vas deferens, the two tiny tubes that convey sperm into a male's semen, researchers said. The gel "doesn't break down. It just sets up a little more, and sticks where you inject it," said lead researcher Catherine VandeVoort. She's a professor of obstetrics and gynecology with the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. Sixteen male rhesus macaque monkeys injected with the non-hormonal gel have proven incapable of reproduction, according to the study findings.

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No females have become pregnant in the males' presence, even though they were housed together for at least one breeding season -- about 6 months. "We're over two years in a lot of these males we injected with this, and so far they've all remained infertile," said VandeVoort. "We know that because we check the parentage of every baby that's born at the primate center." VandeVoort is also a scientist with the California National Primate Research Center at UC Davis. Traditional vasectomies either sever, crush or tie off the vas deferens, causing tissue damage that can be difficult to reverse, VandeVoort said. But researchers hope to revise the Vasalgel plug to the point where a simple solution of water and baking soda would flush it out of the vas deferens, easily restoring a man's fertility, said study co-author Elaine Lissner.

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The gel plug has been successfully flushed out of male rabbits in animal testing, but reversibility has not yet been perfected in primates, said Lissner, founder and trustee of the Parsemus Foundation, the nonprofit group funding development of the gel. The focus of the current study was to see whether Vasalgel would effectively prevent conception, Lissner and VandeVoort said. "This tells us whatever challenges we face, the bottom line is it has worked and been safe in animals similar to humans," Lissner said. The Parsemus Foundation, based in Berkeley, Calif., funded the primate study. Source: http://www.webmd.com/men/news/20170207/a-plug-instead-of-a-snip-for-male-birth-control

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Asthma Management Through Telehealth

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways characterized by episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough. It affects people of all ages and can range from mild, intermittent symptoms to severe persistent disease that significantly impairs quality of life. Effective asthma management requires ongoing assessment of symptom control, appropriate medication use, trigger avoidance, and an action plan for exacerbations, all of which can be supported through telehealth. Telehealth visits allow asthma patients to review symptom diaries, report the frequency and severity of daytime and nighttime symptoms, and discuss how often they are using their rescue inhaler. This information helps providers assess whether the patient's asthma is well-controlled and whether controller medication adjustments are needed. Step-up therapy when asthma is poorly controlled and step-down therapy when it is well-controlled are both decisions that can be made effectively through a virtual consultation. Inhaler technique is a critical factor in asthma outcomes, and poor technique is a major cause of inadequate symptom control. Telehealth visits provide an opportunity for patients to demonstrate their inhaler technique via video so the provider or respiratory therapist can identify and correct errors. This type of educational intervention can meaningfully improve outcomes without requiring an office visit. For patients who develop respiratory infections requiring antibiotics alongside asthma management, services like https://www.amoxilcompharm.com/ provide convenient prescription access. Asthma action plans are written guides that help patients recognize worsening symptoms and know what steps to take at each level of severity. Developing and updating asthma action plans is an important part of telehealth asthma care. Patients who know exactly what to do when their symptoms worsen are less likely to end up in the emergency department. Triggers such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold, smoke, and exercise can be identified and avoidance strategies developed during virtual consultations. Severe asthma exacerbations require emergency in-person care, and patients should know when their action plan directs them to seek immediate help. However, the vast majority of routine asthma management and follow-up can be conducted via telehealth. For educational information on asthma and available online health resources, visit https://amoxicillina.online/ for comprehensive patient guidance.

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