Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating condition affecting 11-15 million individuals in the US alone. FM carries an annual direct cost for care of more than $20 billion and drug therapies are generally only 30% effective in relieving symptoms and 20% effective in improving function. Standard care currently includes medications accompanied by exercise and coping skills approaches. In a study published in the November issue of PAIN, researchers report patients participating in a "Yoga of Awareness" program showed significantly greater improvement in FM symptoms and functioning compared to patients on a standard FM care program.
"Although yoga has been practiced for millennia, only recently have researchers begun to demonstrate yoga's effects on persons suffering from persistent pain," commented lead investigator James W. Carson, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University. "The Yoga of Awareness program stands in contrast to previous multimodal interventions with FM patients in that it integrates a wide spectrum of yoga-based techniques - postures, mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, application of yogic principles to optimal coping, and group discussions....the findings of this pilot study provide promising preliminary support for the beneficial effects of yoga in patients with FM."
Given the much higher prevalence of FM in females (80-90%), researchers chose to include only women in this study. 53 women at least 21 years of age participated. To be eligible, patients had to meet the following criteria: be diagnosed with FM by American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for at least 1 year and be on a stable regimen of pharmacologic and/or non-pharmacologic treatment for FM for at least 3 months. The patients were randomized; 25 participated in the Yoga of Awareness program, while 28 received standard care.
Yoga of Awareness is an innovative, comprehensive yoga program, which for the purposes of this study was tailored to address pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and emotional distress in FM. Each Yoga of Awareness class included approximately 40 minutes of gentle stretching poses, 25 minutes of mindfulness meditation (e.g., awareness of breath, awareness of awareness itself), 10 minutes of breathing techniques (e.g., full yogic breath, breathing into sensation), 20 minutes of didactic presentations on the application of yogic principles to optimal coping, and 25 minutes of group discussions (e.g., experiences while practicing yoga at home).
After the yoga program was completed, both groups were assessed for fibromyalgia symptoms and functional deficits, overall improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms, physical tests of fibromyalgia symptoms and functional deficits such as tender points, strength and balance deficits, and a number of pain coping strategies.
Following treatment, women assigned to the yoga program showed significantly greater improvements on standardized measures of FM symptoms and functioning, including pain, fatigue, and mood, and in pain catastrophizing, acceptance, and other coping strategies.
Dr. Carson and colleagues observed, "In addition, the results suggested the yoga intervention led to a beneficial shift in how patients cope with pain, including greater use of adaptive pain coping strategies (i.e., problem solving, positive reappraisal, use of religion, activity engagement despite pain, acceptance, relaxation) and less use of maladaptive strategies (i.e., catastrophizing, self-isolation, disengagement, confrontation)."
To bring these benefits to the patient community, Dr. Carson has planned a training course for yoga teachers who want to build their skills for working with individuals who have chronic pain conditions.
The article is "A pilot randomized controlled trial of the Yoga of Awareness program in the management of fibromyalgia" by James W. Carson, Kimberly M. Carson, Kim D. Jones, Robert M. Bennett, Cheryl L. Wright, and Scott D. Mist. It appears in PAIN, Volume 151, Issue 2 (October 2010) published by Elsevier.
doi:10.1016/j.pain.2010.08.020
Notes
About The Authors
James W. Carson
Department of Anesthesiology and Peri-operative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
Kimberly M. Carson
School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
Kim D. Jones
School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
Department of Medicine, Division of Arthritis & Rheumatic Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Robert M. Bennett
School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
Department of Medicine, Division of Arthritis & Rheumatic Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Cheryl L. Wright
School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
Scott D. Mist
School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
вторник, 28 июня 2011 г.
суббота, 25 июня 2011 г.
Study Identifies Substances In Grapefruit Juice That Interact Dangerously With Some Drugs
New research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has identified and established the substance in grapefruit juice that causes potentially dangerous interactions with certain medications.
For almost a decade, people have been told by their doctors and pharmacists to avoid grapefruit juice if they are being treated with certain medications, including some drugs that control blood pressure or lower cholesterol. Studies have shown that grapefruit juice can cause more of these drugs to enter the blood stream, resulting in undesirable and even dangerous side effects.
The drugs affected by grapefruit juice usually have some difficulty entering the body after they are consumed because an intestinal enzyme, CYP3A, partially destroys them as they are absorbed. Grapefruit juice, but not other commonly consumed fruit juices, inhibits this enzyme, allowing more of these drugs to enter the body.
It was originally assumed that the ingredients responsible for drug interactions were the flavonoids that give grapefruit juice its bitter taste.
The new study shows that a group of chemicals called furanocoumarins are the likely culprit.
"This is the best evidence to date that furanocoumarins are the active ingredients in grapefruit juice that cause the interaction with medications," said Dr. Paul Watkins, the Dr. Verne S. Caviness distinguished professor of medicine and director of UNC's General Clinical Research Center (GCRC). Watkins led the study team.
A report of the new findings appears in the May issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
To determine whether furanocoumarins are responsible for grapefruit juice-drug interactions, Watkins worked with scientists at the Florida Department of Citrus to selectively remove only the furanocoumarins from the juice. He and his collaborators then studied the effect of the whole juice versus furanocoumarin-free juice on the ability to affect absorption of felodipine, an anti-hypertension drug known to interact with grapefruit juice "And we found that removing the furanocoumarins from grapefruit juice entirely got rid of this interaction," Watkins said.
In this randomized study, 18 healthy volunteers took 10 milligrams of felodipine with each of three juices: orange juice, regular grapefruit juice, and grapefruit juice devoid of furanocoumarins. Blood was collected over 24 hours to measure felodipine blood levels. One week elapsed between each felodipine-juice "treatment."
The study found that in contrast to whole grapefruit juice, the furanocoumarin-free grapefruit juice behaved like orange juice and did not cause an interaction with felodipine.
Watkins notes that there are several implications of this work.
"First, it should now be possible to market the furanocoumarin-free grapefruit juice to patients who would otherwise need to avoid grapefruit. In addition, it should be possible to screen new foods for the potential for drug interactions by determining whether they contain furanocoumarins.
"Finally, it may be possible to add furanocoumarins to formulations of certain drugs that tend to be poorly or erratically absorbed to improve their oral delivery."
Co-authors with Watkins are Drs. Mary F. Paine, research assistant professor in the UNC School of Pharmacy; Dr. Wilbur W. Widmer, scientist with the Citrus and Subtropical Products laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture; Dr. Heather L. Hart, GCRC scientist; Susan N. Pusek, GCRC's director of faculty training; Dr. Kimberly L. Beavers, former postdoctoral scientist in the GCRC; Anne B. Criss, GCRC technician in Watkins' laboratory; and Drs. Sherri S. Brown and Brian F. Thomas of the Research Triangle Institute.
Support for the study came from the National Center for Research Resources and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.
Contact: Leslie H. Lang
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
For almost a decade, people have been told by their doctors and pharmacists to avoid grapefruit juice if they are being treated with certain medications, including some drugs that control blood pressure or lower cholesterol. Studies have shown that grapefruit juice can cause more of these drugs to enter the blood stream, resulting in undesirable and even dangerous side effects.
The drugs affected by grapefruit juice usually have some difficulty entering the body after they are consumed because an intestinal enzyme, CYP3A, partially destroys them as they are absorbed. Grapefruit juice, but not other commonly consumed fruit juices, inhibits this enzyme, allowing more of these drugs to enter the body.
It was originally assumed that the ingredients responsible for drug interactions were the flavonoids that give grapefruit juice its bitter taste.
The new study shows that a group of chemicals called furanocoumarins are the likely culprit.
"This is the best evidence to date that furanocoumarins are the active ingredients in grapefruit juice that cause the interaction with medications," said Dr. Paul Watkins, the Dr. Verne S. Caviness distinguished professor of medicine and director of UNC's General Clinical Research Center (GCRC). Watkins led the study team.
A report of the new findings appears in the May issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
To determine whether furanocoumarins are responsible for grapefruit juice-drug interactions, Watkins worked with scientists at the Florida Department of Citrus to selectively remove only the furanocoumarins from the juice. He and his collaborators then studied the effect of the whole juice versus furanocoumarin-free juice on the ability to affect absorption of felodipine, an anti-hypertension drug known to interact with grapefruit juice "And we found that removing the furanocoumarins from grapefruit juice entirely got rid of this interaction," Watkins said.
In this randomized study, 18 healthy volunteers took 10 milligrams of felodipine with each of three juices: orange juice, regular grapefruit juice, and grapefruit juice devoid of furanocoumarins. Blood was collected over 24 hours to measure felodipine blood levels. One week elapsed between each felodipine-juice "treatment."
The study found that in contrast to whole grapefruit juice, the furanocoumarin-free grapefruit juice behaved like orange juice and did not cause an interaction with felodipine.
Watkins notes that there are several implications of this work.
"First, it should now be possible to market the furanocoumarin-free grapefruit juice to patients who would otherwise need to avoid grapefruit. In addition, it should be possible to screen new foods for the potential for drug interactions by determining whether they contain furanocoumarins.
"Finally, it may be possible to add furanocoumarins to formulations of certain drugs that tend to be poorly or erratically absorbed to improve their oral delivery."
Co-authors with Watkins are Drs. Mary F. Paine, research assistant professor in the UNC School of Pharmacy; Dr. Wilbur W. Widmer, scientist with the Citrus and Subtropical Products laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture; Dr. Heather L. Hart, GCRC scientist; Susan N. Pusek, GCRC's director of faculty training; Dr. Kimberly L. Beavers, former postdoctoral scientist in the GCRC; Anne B. Criss, GCRC technician in Watkins' laboratory; and Drs. Sherri S. Brown and Brian F. Thomas of the Research Triangle Institute.
Support for the study came from the National Center for Research Resources and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.
Contact: Leslie H. Lang
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
среда, 22 июня 2011 г.
Coffee Consumption Associated With Reduced Risk Of Advanced Prostate Cancer
While it is too early for physicians to start advising their male patients to take up the habit of regular coffee drinking, data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference revealed a strong inverse association between coffee consumption and the risk of lethal and advanced prostate cancers.
"Coffee has effects on insulin and glucose metabolism as well as sex hormone levels, all of which play a role in prostate cancer. It was plausible that there may be an association between coffee and prostate cancer," said Kathryn M. Wilson, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at the Channing Laboratory, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health.
In a prospective investigation, Wilson and colleagues found that men who drank the most coffee had a 60 percent lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer than men who did not drink any coffee. This is the first study of its kind to look at both overall risk of prostate cancer and risk of localized, advanced and lethal disease.
"Few studies have looked prospectively at this association, and none have looked at coffee and specific prostate cancer outcomes," said Wilson. "We specifically looked at different types of prostate cancer, such as advanced vs. localized cancers or high-grade vs. low-grade cancers."
Caffeine is actually not the key factor in this association, according to Wilson. The researchers are unsure which components of the beverage are most important, as coffee contains many biologically active compounds like antioxidants and minerals.
Using the Health Professionals' Follow-Up Study, the researchers documented the regular and decaffeinated coffee intake of nearly 50,000 men every four years from 1986 to 2006; 4,975 of these men developed prostate cancer over that time. They also examined the cross-sectional association between coffee consumption and levels of circulating hormones in blood samples collected from a subset of men in the cohort.
"Very few lifestyle factors have been consistently associated with prostate cancer risk, especially with risk of aggressive disease, so it would be very exciting if this association is confirmed in other studies," said Wilson. "Our results do suggest there is no reason to stop drinking coffee out of any concern about prostate cancer."
This association might also help understand the biology of prostate cancer and possible chemoprevention measures.
The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, the AACR is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes 30,000 basic, translational and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and nearly 90 other countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants, research fellowship and career development awards. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 16,000 participants who share the latest discoveries and developments in the field. Special conferences throughout the year present novel data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research, treatment and patient care. The AACR publishes six major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; and Cancer Prevention Research. The AACR also publishes CR, a magazine for cancer survivors and their families, patient advocates, physicians and scientists. CR provides a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship and advocacy.
"Coffee has effects on insulin and glucose metabolism as well as sex hormone levels, all of which play a role in prostate cancer. It was plausible that there may be an association between coffee and prostate cancer," said Kathryn M. Wilson, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at the Channing Laboratory, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health.
In a prospective investigation, Wilson and colleagues found that men who drank the most coffee had a 60 percent lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer than men who did not drink any coffee. This is the first study of its kind to look at both overall risk of prostate cancer and risk of localized, advanced and lethal disease.
"Few studies have looked prospectively at this association, and none have looked at coffee and specific prostate cancer outcomes," said Wilson. "We specifically looked at different types of prostate cancer, such as advanced vs. localized cancers or high-grade vs. low-grade cancers."
Caffeine is actually not the key factor in this association, according to Wilson. The researchers are unsure which components of the beverage are most important, as coffee contains many biologically active compounds like antioxidants and minerals.
Using the Health Professionals' Follow-Up Study, the researchers documented the regular and decaffeinated coffee intake of nearly 50,000 men every four years from 1986 to 2006; 4,975 of these men developed prostate cancer over that time. They also examined the cross-sectional association between coffee consumption and levels of circulating hormones in blood samples collected from a subset of men in the cohort.
"Very few lifestyle factors have been consistently associated with prostate cancer risk, especially with risk of aggressive disease, so it would be very exciting if this association is confirmed in other studies," said Wilson. "Our results do suggest there is no reason to stop drinking coffee out of any concern about prostate cancer."
This association might also help understand the biology of prostate cancer and possible chemoprevention measures.
The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, the AACR is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes 30,000 basic, translational and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and nearly 90 other countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants, research fellowship and career development awards. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 16,000 participants who share the latest discoveries and developments in the field. Special conferences throughout the year present novel data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research, treatment and patient care. The AACR publishes six major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; and Cancer Prevention Research. The AACR also publishes CR, a magazine for cancer survivors and their families, patient advocates, physicians and scientists. CR provides a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship and advocacy.
воскресенье, 19 июня 2011 г.
Tocotrienols Shown To Be Effective In Lowering Fat Levels In Blood
Scientists from Singapore found that tocotrienols, which are
members of the Vitamin E family, are effective in lowering the levels of triglyceride, a
form of fat in the blood. High levels of triglyceride are closely linked to an increased
risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
The scientists found that gamma and delta tocotrienols, derived naturally from palm
oil, are potent in lowering triglyceride levels by 28% in the blood of human subjects
after two months of supplementation. In addition, tocotrienol-treated subjects in the
double blind, placebo-controlled human trial showed decreasing trends in average
weight, body fat mass, body fat percentage and waist measurement. The study
hence points to the potential of tocotrienols as a natural remedy in fighting obesity.
This research study, which involves collaboration between scientists at Davos Life
Science (Singapore), researchers at Malaysia Palm Oil Board (Malaysia) and
Phytopharma Co. Ltd. (Japan), was reported in the October 2010 issue of Journal of
Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis, the reputable publication of the Japan
Atherosclerosis Society. The study involved twenty human subjects with borderline
hypercholesterolemia and was conducted in Takara Clinic in Japan. The subjects
were not receiving any cholesterol-lowering medications at baseline.
"Other studies have shown triglyceride-lowering effects of eicosapentaenoic acid
(EPA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid found in oily fish, which is approved by Japan's
Ministry of Health as a treatment for hyperlipidemia. This study reveals that
tocotrienols have a more significant serum triglyceride-lowering effect than EPA.
More importantly, tocotrienol did not have any observable side effects, suggesting
that it could become a natural remedy to lower triglycerides effectively," said Dr.
Daniel Yap, Head for Tocotrienol R&D, Davos Life Science.
An elevated triglyceride level is one of the risk factors for the identification of
metabolic syndrome, which is linked to an increase risk of cardiovascular disease,
diabetes and stroke. This study demonstrates - for the first time - that gamma and
delta tocotrienols work to lower triglyceride levels, by directly suppressing genes that
enable triglyceride production (SREBP1/2, DGAT2 and APOB100), suggesting that
tocotrienols are able to directly regulate triglyceride synthesis in the body. At the
same time, this down-regulation also translates into a reduction in the level of
triglyceride transport lipoproteins (VLDL and chylomicron), which distribute fats
around the body. The study supports its in vitro research findings, by demonstrating
the triglyceride-lowering effect of tocotrienols in both mice models and human
clinical studies.
Moreover, the study also showed that tocotrienols may inhibit the development of
atherosclerosis, a medical condition in which fatty plaque, resulting from oxidation of
LDL-cholesterol (also known as 'bad' cholesterol), builds up inside the arteries. It
was found that gamma tocotrienol can enhance the removal of LDL-cholesterol from
the blood, by inducing the expression of LDL receptors. This is a key step in
achieving healthy blood lipid levels.
"Our studies show that tocotrienols have the potential for the prevention or
treatment of metabolic syndrome. This research contributes further evidence that
natural tocotrienols is a far more powerful form of vitamin E with unique healthrelated
benefits not shared by alpha-tocopherol, the common form of vitamin E,"
said Mr Arthur Ling, CEO of Davos Life Science Singapore, a company specialising in
the research & development and production of tocotrienols.
members of the Vitamin E family, are effective in lowering the levels of triglyceride, a
form of fat in the blood. High levels of triglyceride are closely linked to an increased
risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
The scientists found that gamma and delta tocotrienols, derived naturally from palm
oil, are potent in lowering triglyceride levels by 28% in the blood of human subjects
after two months of supplementation. In addition, tocotrienol-treated subjects in the
double blind, placebo-controlled human trial showed decreasing trends in average
weight, body fat mass, body fat percentage and waist measurement. The study
hence points to the potential of tocotrienols as a natural remedy in fighting obesity.
This research study, which involves collaboration between scientists at Davos Life
Science (Singapore), researchers at Malaysia Palm Oil Board (Malaysia) and
Phytopharma Co. Ltd. (Japan), was reported in the October 2010 issue of Journal of
Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis, the reputable publication of the Japan
Atherosclerosis Society. The study involved twenty human subjects with borderline
hypercholesterolemia and was conducted in Takara Clinic in Japan. The subjects
were not receiving any cholesterol-lowering medications at baseline.
"Other studies have shown triglyceride-lowering effects of eicosapentaenoic acid
(EPA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid found in oily fish, which is approved by Japan's
Ministry of Health as a treatment for hyperlipidemia. This study reveals that
tocotrienols have a more significant serum triglyceride-lowering effect than EPA.
More importantly, tocotrienol did not have any observable side effects, suggesting
that it could become a natural remedy to lower triglycerides effectively," said Dr.
Daniel Yap, Head for Tocotrienol R&D, Davos Life Science.
An elevated triglyceride level is one of the risk factors for the identification of
metabolic syndrome, which is linked to an increase risk of cardiovascular disease,
diabetes and stroke. This study demonstrates - for the first time - that gamma and
delta tocotrienols work to lower triglyceride levels, by directly suppressing genes that
enable triglyceride production (SREBP1/2, DGAT2 and APOB100), suggesting that
tocotrienols are able to directly regulate triglyceride synthesis in the body. At the
same time, this down-regulation also translates into a reduction in the level of
triglyceride transport lipoproteins (VLDL and chylomicron), which distribute fats
around the body. The study supports its in vitro research findings, by demonstrating
the triglyceride-lowering effect of tocotrienols in both mice models and human
clinical studies.
Moreover, the study also showed that tocotrienols may inhibit the development of
atherosclerosis, a medical condition in which fatty plaque, resulting from oxidation of
LDL-cholesterol (also known as 'bad' cholesterol), builds up inside the arteries. It
was found that gamma tocotrienol can enhance the removal of LDL-cholesterol from
the blood, by inducing the expression of LDL receptors. This is a key step in
achieving healthy blood lipid levels.
"Our studies show that tocotrienols have the potential for the prevention or
treatment of metabolic syndrome. This research contributes further evidence that
natural tocotrienols is a far more powerful form of vitamin E with unique healthrelated
benefits not shared by alpha-tocopherol, the common form of vitamin E,"
said Mr Arthur Ling, CEO of Davos Life Science Singapore, a company specialising in
the research & development and production of tocotrienols.
четверг, 16 июня 2011 г.
Business Owner Pleads Guilty To Fraudulently Marketing Dietary Supplements
Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., business owner has pleaded guilty in federal court to her role in a conspiracy to fraudulently market dietary supplements over the Internet with illegal claims that these supplements could prevent, treat or cure a number of diseases. Several Web sites were used to sell nearly $12 million worth of the products in 2005 and 2006.
Mai Lor, 25, of Springfield, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr on Friday, Feb. 5, 2010, to her role in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Lor was co-owner, along with her husband, of Medycinex, located in Springfield, which purchased dietary supplements and sold them over the Internet. At her husband's direction, Lor also formed Bio Nutrasource, LLC, located in Springfield, to carry on the business previously conducted by Medycinex.
Lor contracted with co-defendant Tony T. Pham, 41, of Grand Rapids, Mich., to market and distribute the dietary supplements. Co-conspirators claimed that six products sold over the Internet had been proven reliable through clinical testing for the treatment and prevention of diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, gout, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heartburn and diarrhea. In reality, no clinical testing had been performed.
Under federal law, a dietary supplement may not claim to treat, cure or prevent a specific disease or class of diseases. None of the dietary supplements sold by Lor and her co-conspirators are generally recognized, among experts qualified by scientific training and experience to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of drugs, as safe and effective for use under any of the conditions recommended in their labeling. Therefore, each of these dietary supplements is a new drug. None of them were approved by the FDA, and their labels do not bear adequate directions for use; therefore, they are also categorized as unapproved drugs and misbranded drugs. The dietary supplements that were marketed as unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs included Diabeticine (later renamed Diamaxol, and also known as Glucolex), Digestrol (also known as Digesticine), Uricinex (also known as Uricaid), Cholestasys Rx (later renamed Cholestasys), Hyperexol and Prolipamy.
Pham pleaded guilty on July 2, 2009, to charges contained in the April 2, 2009, superseding indictment. Pham owned and operated Techmedica Health, Inc., located in Grand Rapids. Pham admitted that he used Techmedica to repackage, sell, market, and distribute unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs over the Internet.
Pham admitted that since April 6, 2004, he participated in a conspiracy to buy and sell unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs and to defraud the United States by impeding the lawful functions of the Food and Drug Administration to prevent the introduction of unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs in interstate commerce, to regulate the interstate sale and distribution of drugs in the United States, and to safeguard the health and safety of consumers who purchase drugs. In addition to the conspiracy, Pham pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud related to payments in the form of a wire transfers to a bank account.
Pham sold $11,954,648 worth of those products in 2005 and 2006, using several different Web sites. Web sites used by Techmedica contained materially false testimonials, product information, and identification of medical professionals.
Techmedica fabricated fraudulent customer identities using photographs purchased from Istockphoto. Testimonials attributed to these fraudulent identities touted the effectiveness of the unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs. Techmedica also posted one of the Istockphoto photographs on their Web sites to fabricate a non-existent physician, Dr. Judy Hamilton, for the purpose of lending authenticity to and endorsing product claims about Diabeticine for customers with Type I and Type II diabetes. The person identified as Dr. Hamilton was in fact a model from California. This same model's photograph was also used by Pham on another Web site to fabricate a non-existent nurse, Bethany Hunt, RN, to tout the effectiveness of the unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs.
Techmedica, through Pham, operated several Web sites using mirror image technology. When each of these Web sites was accessed from an FDA network computer, they displayed a "sanitized" version of the Web site containing medical claims that attempted to comply with the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). However, when each of these Web sites was accessed from a computer whose IP address could not be traced to the FDA, they displayed claims that the dietary supplements could cure, mitigate, treat, and prevent diseases, so that these supplements were sold as unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs.
By pleading guilty, Lor also agreed to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the offenses, including $11,954,648 (for which she and her co-defendants are jointly and severally liable), three real estate properties in Springfield, properties in Rogersville, Mo., and Pleasant Hope, Mo., three vehicles and various bank accounts.
Under federal statutes, Lor is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigation.
Source
U.S. Attorney
Mai Lor, 25, of Springfield, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr on Friday, Feb. 5, 2010, to her role in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Lor was co-owner, along with her husband, of Medycinex, located in Springfield, which purchased dietary supplements and sold them over the Internet. At her husband's direction, Lor also formed Bio Nutrasource, LLC, located in Springfield, to carry on the business previously conducted by Medycinex.
Lor contracted with co-defendant Tony T. Pham, 41, of Grand Rapids, Mich., to market and distribute the dietary supplements. Co-conspirators claimed that six products sold over the Internet had been proven reliable through clinical testing for the treatment and prevention of diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, gout, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heartburn and diarrhea. In reality, no clinical testing had been performed.
Under federal law, a dietary supplement may not claim to treat, cure or prevent a specific disease or class of diseases. None of the dietary supplements sold by Lor and her co-conspirators are generally recognized, among experts qualified by scientific training and experience to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of drugs, as safe and effective for use under any of the conditions recommended in their labeling. Therefore, each of these dietary supplements is a new drug. None of them were approved by the FDA, and their labels do not bear adequate directions for use; therefore, they are also categorized as unapproved drugs and misbranded drugs. The dietary supplements that were marketed as unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs included Diabeticine (later renamed Diamaxol, and also known as Glucolex), Digestrol (also known as Digesticine), Uricinex (also known as Uricaid), Cholestasys Rx (later renamed Cholestasys), Hyperexol and Prolipamy.
Pham pleaded guilty on July 2, 2009, to charges contained in the April 2, 2009, superseding indictment. Pham owned and operated Techmedica Health, Inc., located in Grand Rapids. Pham admitted that he used Techmedica to repackage, sell, market, and distribute unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs over the Internet.
Pham admitted that since April 6, 2004, he participated in a conspiracy to buy and sell unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs and to defraud the United States by impeding the lawful functions of the Food and Drug Administration to prevent the introduction of unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs in interstate commerce, to regulate the interstate sale and distribution of drugs in the United States, and to safeguard the health and safety of consumers who purchase drugs. In addition to the conspiracy, Pham pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud related to payments in the form of a wire transfers to a bank account.
Pham sold $11,954,648 worth of those products in 2005 and 2006, using several different Web sites. Web sites used by Techmedica contained materially false testimonials, product information, and identification of medical professionals.
Techmedica fabricated fraudulent customer identities using photographs purchased from Istockphoto. Testimonials attributed to these fraudulent identities touted the effectiveness of the unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs. Techmedica also posted one of the Istockphoto photographs on their Web sites to fabricate a non-existent physician, Dr. Judy Hamilton, for the purpose of lending authenticity to and endorsing product claims about Diabeticine for customers with Type I and Type II diabetes. The person identified as Dr. Hamilton was in fact a model from California. This same model's photograph was also used by Pham on another Web site to fabricate a non-existent nurse, Bethany Hunt, RN, to tout the effectiveness of the unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs.
Techmedica, through Pham, operated several Web sites using mirror image technology. When each of these Web sites was accessed from an FDA network computer, they displayed a "sanitized" version of the Web site containing medical claims that attempted to comply with the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). However, when each of these Web sites was accessed from a computer whose IP address could not be traced to the FDA, they displayed claims that the dietary supplements could cure, mitigate, treat, and prevent diseases, so that these supplements were sold as unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs.
By pleading guilty, Lor also agreed to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the offenses, including $11,954,648 (for which she and her co-defendants are jointly and severally liable), three real estate properties in Springfield, properties in Rogersville, Mo., and Pleasant Hope, Mo., three vehicles and various bank accounts.
Under federal statutes, Lor is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigation.
Source
U.S. Attorney
понедельник, 13 июня 2011 г.
Asthma Breathing Exercises Effective Management Technique
Breathing exercises meant to reduce asthma symptoms are effective at improving quality of life but do not eliminate the need for inhalers, according to an article released on December 2, 2008 in Thorax, one of the BMJ Specialist journals.
Previously, it has been shown that the number symptoms exhibited by asthma patients are associated with the degree of control they have over their lives. To elucidate the relative beneficial effects of breathing exercises, the researchers performed a randomized controlled trial, recruiting 200 adults who were being treated for mild to moderately severe asthma in primary care.
The subjects were assigned to one of two groups: one receiving three sessions of breathing exercise training with a physiotherapist, and the other given information and advice by a nurse. Subjects completed questionnaires at baseline, after one month, and after six months evaluating the impact of the disease on their lives and how well they controlled it. Additional questionnaires were distributed to determine anxiety and depression.
In both groups, patients indicated improvement in quality of life in the first month, with similar results in both approaches. However, after six months, a difference appeared, with the group assigned breathing exercises having less anxiety, less depression, and better control over their asthma. However, there was no significant difference in the need for inhalers.
The authors conclude that the breathing exercises may be helpful if patients are not controlling their asthma well, but that these are not a substitute for medication.
Breathing exercises for asthma: a randomised controlled trial
M Thomas, RK McKinley, S Mellor, G Watkin, E Holloway, J Scullion, DE Shaw, A Wardlaw, D Price, I Pavord
Online First Thorax 2008;
doi 10.1136/thx.2008.100867
Click Here For Journal
Written by Anna Sophia McKenney
Previously, it has been shown that the number symptoms exhibited by asthma patients are associated with the degree of control they have over their lives. To elucidate the relative beneficial effects of breathing exercises, the researchers performed a randomized controlled trial, recruiting 200 adults who were being treated for mild to moderately severe asthma in primary care.
The subjects were assigned to one of two groups: one receiving three sessions of breathing exercise training with a physiotherapist, and the other given information and advice by a nurse. Subjects completed questionnaires at baseline, after one month, and after six months evaluating the impact of the disease on their lives and how well they controlled it. Additional questionnaires were distributed to determine anxiety and depression.
In both groups, patients indicated improvement in quality of life in the first month, with similar results in both approaches. However, after six months, a difference appeared, with the group assigned breathing exercises having less anxiety, less depression, and better control over their asthma. However, there was no significant difference in the need for inhalers.
The authors conclude that the breathing exercises may be helpful if patients are not controlling their asthma well, but that these are not a substitute for medication.
Breathing exercises for asthma: a randomised controlled trial
M Thomas, RK McKinley, S Mellor, G Watkin, E Holloway, J Scullion, DE Shaw, A Wardlaw, D Price, I Pavord
Online First Thorax 2008;
doi 10.1136/thx.2008.100867
Click Here For Journal
Written by Anna Sophia McKenney
пятница, 10 июня 2011 г.
New Lung Cancer Research Presented At CHEST 2008
#7725
YOUNGER PATIENTS WITH LUNG CANCER HAVE BETTER SURVIVAL
Lung cancer in younger patients may exhibit distinct clinical features than lung cancer in older patients, including better survival rates at each disease stage. Researchers from Stanford Cancer Center in California compared disease characteristics and survival of lung cancer patients aged 15 to 39 years at diagnosis with patients aged 40 years or over at diagnosis. The age-adjusted incidence rate of lung cancer in patients aged 15 to 39 years was 1.2 per 100,000, whereas the rate in patients aged ?‰?40 years was 141 per 100,000. A higher proportion of younger patients (57 percent) had distant disease at diagnosis compared with older patients (51 percent). Mean 5-year cause-specific survival was 34 percent in the group of patients aged 15 to 39 years and 16 percent in the group aged ?‰?40 years. In addition, at each disease stage, mean 1- and 5-year cause-specific survival rates were better in the younger group.
#7701
HERBAL REMEDIES MAY HELP PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED LUNG CANCER
(Wednesday, October 29, 1:00 PM EST)
The use of herbal remedies may be an effective supportive therapy to control symptoms and improve quality of life in patients with advanced stage lung cancer. Researchers from Jafary Medical Clinics in West Virginia followed 15 patients with end-stage primary lung cancer who failed to improve with a conventional treatment of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients were treated with American ginseng for fatigue, morphine sulfate for control of severe dyspnea and pain, licorice root powder for control of severe coughing spells, and bilevel pressure ventilation for respiratory depression related to IV morphine. Two patients also were taking oldenlandia, a Chinese herb for lung cancer. Results showed that licorice and ginseng were effective therapies for the majority of patients, and morphine, used as nebulizer in two patients, was effective in the control of marked dyspnea and pain. One patient lived 4 months using the supportive therapy, while the remaining patients lived 6 to 12 weeks.
YOUNGER PATIENTS WITH LUNG CANCER HAVE BETTER SURVIVAL
Lung cancer in younger patients may exhibit distinct clinical features than lung cancer in older patients, including better survival rates at each disease stage. Researchers from Stanford Cancer Center in California compared disease characteristics and survival of lung cancer patients aged 15 to 39 years at diagnosis with patients aged 40 years or over at diagnosis. The age-adjusted incidence rate of lung cancer in patients aged 15 to 39 years was 1.2 per 100,000, whereas the rate in patients aged ?‰?40 years was 141 per 100,000. A higher proportion of younger patients (57 percent) had distant disease at diagnosis compared with older patients (51 percent). Mean 5-year cause-specific survival was 34 percent in the group of patients aged 15 to 39 years and 16 percent in the group aged ?‰?40 years. In addition, at each disease stage, mean 1- and 5-year cause-specific survival rates were better in the younger group.
#7701
HERBAL REMEDIES MAY HELP PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED LUNG CANCER
(Wednesday, October 29, 1:00 PM EST)
The use of herbal remedies may be an effective supportive therapy to control symptoms and improve quality of life in patients with advanced stage lung cancer. Researchers from Jafary Medical Clinics in West Virginia followed 15 patients with end-stage primary lung cancer who failed to improve with a conventional treatment of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients were treated with American ginseng for fatigue, morphine sulfate for control of severe dyspnea and pain, licorice root powder for control of severe coughing spells, and bilevel pressure ventilation for respiratory depression related to IV morphine. Two patients also were taking oldenlandia, a Chinese herb for lung cancer. Results showed that licorice and ginseng were effective therapies for the majority of patients, and morphine, used as nebulizer in two patients, was effective in the control of marked dyspnea and pain. One patient lived 4 months using the supportive therapy, while the remaining patients lived 6 to 12 weeks.
вторник, 7 июня 2011 г.
Treating Stiff Neck Could Reduce Blood Pressure
A chance discovery in the lab has helped University of Leeds scientists to show how the treatment for a stiff neck could do wonders for your blood pressure.
Chiropractors have long known that tackling pain and stiffness by 'cracking' the neck through manipulation can also lower blood pressure -- but the reasons were never clear.
Now a team led by Professor Jim Deuchars has examined pathways between the neck and the brain to show how the neck muscles could play a crucial role in controlling blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.
Their study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience provides the first evidence for a role for these connections in influencing brain regions which control body functions that we don't need to think about, such as breathing and blood pressure.
The area of the brain where the signals from the neck terminate were first identified by 'Godfather of Neuroscience' Ramon Y Cajal, more than 100 years ago, though its function was not understood. What happened after these signals arrived remained a largely-overlooked area of research until new techniques allowed the Leeds team to take the work forward.
Their work began by chance, as Prof Deuchars explained: "Cells in the area that receive neck signals jumped out at us when we labelled sections with particular markers. We wanted to know how these cells were organised and the other brain regions to which they were connected."
The team, which includes researchers from Japan and Hungary, found a link between these cells and the nucleus tractus solitarius, an area of the brain that is pivotal in control of autonomic functions - body functions under unconscious control. They propose that nervous signals from the neck could play a key role in ensuring that adequate blood supply is maintained to the brain as we change posture, such as from lying down to standing up. Where such signalling fails, we can suffer problems with balance and blood pressure.
The findings offer a clear rationale for manipulative treatments: "Reports from chiropractic journals say that manipulating the neck region helps to reduce blood pressure in some people," Prof Deuchars explained. "By identifying the pathways we can see why these treatments might work and it could also explain why some people suffering whiplash injuries may experience a change in their blood pressure."
"The work also contributes to understanding postural hypotension -- fainting which can be caused by standing up too fast. The neck muscles could be a part of the system which normally prevents this from happening by sending signals to the brain upon neck movement that posture has changed."
More research is now needed to see which sensory nerve fibres and precisely which cells are involved in the process. Amongst other things, the team would now like to know what other brain regions the neck muscle termination site connects to. They believe that there are many malfunctions associated with whiplash injuries to the neck that could be better understood by unravelling these connections. They hope that this knowledge could be used to design more effective treatments for such injuries.
Further information
Jim Deuchars is Professor of Systems Neuroscience in the University of Leeds's Institute of Membrane and Systems Biology, based in the Faculty of Biological Sciences. Click here for more about his work.
The University of Leeds Faculty of Biological Sciences is one of the largest in the UK, with nearly 150 academic staff and over 400 postdoctoral fellows and postgraduates. The faculty's current active research grant portfolio is around ??77m and funders include charities, research councils, the European Union and industry. The faculty has an outstanding research record and all major units of assessment were awarded Grade 5 in the last government (HEFCE) Research Assessment Exercise. More about the faculty can be found here: fbs.leeds.ac.uk/
The article "The Neurochemically Diverse Intermedius Nucleus of the Medulla as a Source of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Input to the Nucleus Tractus Solitarii" (JN-RM-0638-07.R1) is published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Chiropractors have long known that tackling pain and stiffness by 'cracking' the neck through manipulation can also lower blood pressure -- but the reasons were never clear.
Now a team led by Professor Jim Deuchars has examined pathways between the neck and the brain to show how the neck muscles could play a crucial role in controlling blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.
Their study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience provides the first evidence for a role for these connections in influencing brain regions which control body functions that we don't need to think about, such as breathing and blood pressure.
The area of the brain where the signals from the neck terminate were first identified by 'Godfather of Neuroscience' Ramon Y Cajal, more than 100 years ago, though its function was not understood. What happened after these signals arrived remained a largely-overlooked area of research until new techniques allowed the Leeds team to take the work forward.
Their work began by chance, as Prof Deuchars explained: "Cells in the area that receive neck signals jumped out at us when we labelled sections with particular markers. We wanted to know how these cells were organised and the other brain regions to which they were connected."
The team, which includes researchers from Japan and Hungary, found a link between these cells and the nucleus tractus solitarius, an area of the brain that is pivotal in control of autonomic functions - body functions under unconscious control. They propose that nervous signals from the neck could play a key role in ensuring that adequate blood supply is maintained to the brain as we change posture, such as from lying down to standing up. Where such signalling fails, we can suffer problems with balance and blood pressure.
The findings offer a clear rationale for manipulative treatments: "Reports from chiropractic journals say that manipulating the neck region helps to reduce blood pressure in some people," Prof Deuchars explained. "By identifying the pathways we can see why these treatments might work and it could also explain why some people suffering whiplash injuries may experience a change in their blood pressure."
"The work also contributes to understanding postural hypotension -- fainting which can be caused by standing up too fast. The neck muscles could be a part of the system which normally prevents this from happening by sending signals to the brain upon neck movement that posture has changed."
More research is now needed to see which sensory nerve fibres and precisely which cells are involved in the process. Amongst other things, the team would now like to know what other brain regions the neck muscle termination site connects to. They believe that there are many malfunctions associated with whiplash injuries to the neck that could be better understood by unravelling these connections. They hope that this knowledge could be used to design more effective treatments for such injuries.
Further information
Jim Deuchars is Professor of Systems Neuroscience in the University of Leeds's Institute of Membrane and Systems Biology, based in the Faculty of Biological Sciences. Click here for more about his work.
The University of Leeds Faculty of Biological Sciences is one of the largest in the UK, with nearly 150 academic staff and over 400 postdoctoral fellows and postgraduates. The faculty's current active research grant portfolio is around ??77m and funders include charities, research councils, the European Union and industry. The faculty has an outstanding research record and all major units of assessment were awarded Grade 5 in the last government (HEFCE) Research Assessment Exercise. More about the faculty can be found here: fbs.leeds.ac.uk/
The article "The Neurochemically Diverse Intermedius Nucleus of the Medulla as a Source of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Input to the Nucleus Tractus Solitarii" (JN-RM-0638-07.R1) is published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
суббота, 4 июня 2011 г.
Family Caregivers, Simple Touch Techniques Reduce Symptoms In Cancer Patients
Family caregivers can significantly reduce suffering in cancer patients at home through use of simple touch and massage techniques. These findings were recently reported at the 6th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology.
The study, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, evaluated outcomes of a 78 minute DVD instructional program and illustrated manual in a sample of 97 patients and their caregivers. The multi-ethnic sample represented 21 types of cancer (nearly half with breast cancer) and all stages of disease. Caregivers included spouses, adult children, parents, siblings and friends. The project was conducted in Boston, MA, Portland, ME, and Portland, OR using English, Spanish and Chinese languages.
According to the principal investigator, William Collinge, PhD, president of Collinge and Associates states, "Touch and massage are among the most effective forms of supportive care in cancer, but most patients cannot access professional practitioners of these methods on a regular basis. This study sought to determine whether family caregivers receiving brief home-based instruction could deliver some of the same benefits as professionals. It appears they can."
In the study, couples were randomized to either an experimental group using the program, or an attention control group. Caregivers in the experimental group were asked to apply the instruction for at least 20 minutes, three or more times per week for a month. Those in the control group were assigned to read to the patient for the same amounts of time. Patients completed report cards before and after sessions rating their levels of pain, fatigue, stress/anxiety, nausea, depression, and other symptoms.
Results indicated significant reductions for all symptoms after both activities, indicating that companionship alone has a positive effect. However, while symptoms were reduced from 12-28% after reading, massage from the caregiver led to reductions of 29-44%. The greatest impact was on stress/anxiety (44% reduction), followed by pain (34%), fatigue (32%), depression (31%), and nausea (29%). Patients reporting an optional "other" symptom (e.g., headaches) saw reductions of 42% with massage. Caregivers in the massage group also showed gains in confidence and comfort with using touch and massage as forms of caregiving.
According to Collinge, "It appears that family members who receive simple instruction in safety and techniques can achieve some of the same results as professional practitioners. This has important implications not just for patient well-being, but for caregivers as well. Caregivers are at risk of distress themselves - they can feel helpless and frustrated when seeing a loved one suffer. This gives a way to make a difference for the patient, and at the same time increase their own satisfaction and effectiveness as a caregiver. It also appears to strengthen the relationship bond, which is important to both."
The DVD program is now released to the public, titled "Touch, Caring and Cancer: Simple Instruction for Family and Friends." in English, Spanish and Chinese. More information and video trailers are available at partnersinhealing.
The study, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, evaluated outcomes of a 78 minute DVD instructional program and illustrated manual in a sample of 97 patients and their caregivers. The multi-ethnic sample represented 21 types of cancer (nearly half with breast cancer) and all stages of disease. Caregivers included spouses, adult children, parents, siblings and friends. The project was conducted in Boston, MA, Portland, ME, and Portland, OR using English, Spanish and Chinese languages.
According to the principal investigator, William Collinge, PhD, president of Collinge and Associates states, "Touch and massage are among the most effective forms of supportive care in cancer, but most patients cannot access professional practitioners of these methods on a regular basis. This study sought to determine whether family caregivers receiving brief home-based instruction could deliver some of the same benefits as professionals. It appears they can."
In the study, couples were randomized to either an experimental group using the program, or an attention control group. Caregivers in the experimental group were asked to apply the instruction for at least 20 minutes, three or more times per week for a month. Those in the control group were assigned to read to the patient for the same amounts of time. Patients completed report cards before and after sessions rating their levels of pain, fatigue, stress/anxiety, nausea, depression, and other symptoms.
Results indicated significant reductions for all symptoms after both activities, indicating that companionship alone has a positive effect. However, while symptoms were reduced from 12-28% after reading, massage from the caregiver led to reductions of 29-44%. The greatest impact was on stress/anxiety (44% reduction), followed by pain (34%), fatigue (32%), depression (31%), and nausea (29%). Patients reporting an optional "other" symptom (e.g., headaches) saw reductions of 42% with massage. Caregivers in the massage group also showed gains in confidence and comfort with using touch and massage as forms of caregiving.
According to Collinge, "It appears that family members who receive simple instruction in safety and techniques can achieve some of the same results as professional practitioners. This has important implications not just for patient well-being, but for caregivers as well. Caregivers are at risk of distress themselves - they can feel helpless and frustrated when seeing a loved one suffer. This gives a way to make a difference for the patient, and at the same time increase their own satisfaction and effectiveness as a caregiver. It also appears to strengthen the relationship bond, which is important to both."
The DVD program is now released to the public, titled "Touch, Caring and Cancer: Simple Instruction for Family and Friends." in English, Spanish and Chinese. More information and video trailers are available at partnersinhealing.
среда, 1 июня 2011 г.
Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs May Help Women With Breast Cancer
Using Chinese herbs either alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy may help protect a breast cancer patient's bone marrow and immune system, as well as improving the woman's overall quality of life.
Sixty per cent of women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer experience a range of significant short term side effects. These include nausea, vomiting and fatigue, as well as inflammation of the gut lining, decreased numbers of red and white blood cells and decreased numbers of blood platelets.
Chinese medicinal herbs include mixtures of herbal compounds or extracts from herbs, and they are prescribed to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy. This Cochrane Systematic Review set out to see if there is conventional evidence indicating that these medicines are safe and whether there is evidence that the medicines are effective.
The researchers identified seven randomised studies involving 542 patients with breast cancer. By analysing these data, the researchers concluded that there was no evidence that the Chinese medicinal herbal treatment caused harm, and some evidence that it might reduce side effects.
"Further trials are needed before the effects of traditional Chinese medicines for people with breast cancer can be evaluated with any real confidence," says Assistant Professor Jing Li, who works at the Chinese Cochrane Centre in Chengdu, China.
Contact: Jennifer Beal
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Sixty per cent of women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer experience a range of significant short term side effects. These include nausea, vomiting and fatigue, as well as inflammation of the gut lining, decreased numbers of red and white blood cells and decreased numbers of blood platelets.
Chinese medicinal herbs include mixtures of herbal compounds or extracts from herbs, and they are prescribed to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy. This Cochrane Systematic Review set out to see if there is conventional evidence indicating that these medicines are safe and whether there is evidence that the medicines are effective.
The researchers identified seven randomised studies involving 542 patients with breast cancer. By analysing these data, the researchers concluded that there was no evidence that the Chinese medicinal herbal treatment caused harm, and some evidence that it might reduce side effects.
"Further trials are needed before the effects of traditional Chinese medicines for people with breast cancer can be evaluated with any real confidence," says Assistant Professor Jing Li, who works at the Chinese Cochrane Centre in Chengdu, China.
Contact: Jennifer Beal
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Подписаться на:
Комментарии (Atom)