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Herbal, nutritional supplements linked to side effects ranging from dry eye to retinal hemorrhages and transient visual loss

An estimated 42 percent of Americans use herbal medicines or nutritional supplements. Many people taking these products and their physicians are unaware of the adverse reactions they can cause.

13 Oct 2004

Researchers stimulate the body to repair tissue damaged by peripheral arterial obstructive disease

Duke University Medical Center researchers have shown that they can stimulate the body to produce its own naturally occurring growth factors to promote blood vessel growth into tissue damaged by peripheral arterial obstructive disease (PAOD).

13 Oct 2004

Technique for genetically modifying blood stem cells brings cure for blood diseases closer

The condition of mice with a genetic blood disease called beta-thalassemia improved significantly following treatment of their blood forming cells with a gene that enabled them to produce the type of hemoglobin normally found only in the fetus.

12 Oct 2004

Novel treatment using ketamine has shown success in reducing the severe pain caused by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

A novel treatment using a common anesthetic drug has shown success in reducing the severe pain caused by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), according to a study published in the September 2004 issue of Pain Medicine.

12 Oct 2004

Study finds new vaccine against pneumococcal has minor adverse effects but continued surveillance is warranted

Examination of reports from the first two years after licensure of a new vaccine against pneumococcal infections indicates that the majority of adverse effects are minor, but that continued surveillance is warranted, according to a study in the October 13 issue of JAMA.

12 Oct 2004

A novel gene therapy strategy may help reduce seizures in adults suffering from epilepsy

Deborah Lin, from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, is investigating the effects of a therapeutic gene transfer in a particular form of epilepsy which affects the brain’s temporal lobe region.

12 Oct 2004

Protein called Mrp4 blocks the access of the anti-cancer drug topotecan into the brain

A protein called Mrp4 blocks the access of the anti-cancer drug topotecan into the brain by transporting this agent back into the bloodstream, thus reducing the ability of this agent to reach tumors.

11 Oct 2004

Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug eases symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee

Symptoms of primary osteoarthritis of the knee, including pain and stiffness, were significantly improved in patients who used a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), according to an article in the October 11 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine.

11 Oct 2004

Study increases likelihood that MRI could be used as predictive technology to determine which patients should be placed on statin therapy for atherosclerosis

Using modified magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, researchers at Johns Hopkins have been able to detect the early benefits of a cholesterol-lowering medication much sooner than before.

11 Oct 2004

Vioxx: an unequal partnership between safety and efficacy

Last week’s dramatic withdrawal of the COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib (Vioxx) is discussed in this week’s lead editorial in THE LANCET, which comments that more vigilant drug licensing is vital to prevent the endangering of patients’ health.

7 Oct 2004

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery can help people suffering from chronic fatigue caused by sinusitis

A review of published medical literature shows that functional endoscopic sinus surgery can help people suffering from chronic fatigue caused by sinusitis.

7 Oct 2004

Low-fat meals reduce effectiveness of vitamin E supplementation

Research at the University of Surrey has now shown that if a vitamin E supplement is taken with a low-fat meal, the absorption of the vitamin into the blood stream, and therefore its efficacy, is significantly reduced.

6 Oct 2004

Autism decision is turning point for autistic children in Northern Ireland

The decision to fund Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in Northern Ireland marks a turning point in the services available to families with autistic children in Northern Ireland, according to a University of Ulster behaviour analyst.

6 Oct 2004

Significant progress in development of an animal model of smallpox that closely resembles human disease

Scientists have made significant progress in developing an animal model of smallpox that closely resembles human disease, which will be necessary for testing of future vaccines and potential treatments.

5 Oct 2004

Minor depression is effectively treated with medication

Minor depression, an underdiagnosed and undertreated subset of major depressive disorder that affects upwards of 15 million Americans, can be effectively treated with a drug called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)

5 Oct 2004

Immediate voluntary world-wide withdrawal of Vioxx (rofecoxib)

Pharmaceutical company, Merck Sharp & Dohme has announced an immediate voluntary world-wide withdrawal of the drug, Vioxx (rofecoxib), commonly used for patients with rheumatoid or osteoarthritis.

4 Oct 2004

FDA fast tracks Genaera's drug for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration

Genaera Corporation has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to squalamine, an intravenously administered, first in class, small molecule anti-angiogenic drug for the treatment of "wet" age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

4 Oct 2004

Data demonstrate that Celebrex does not increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients with arthritis and pain

Pfizer has said that three large long-term Celebrex (celecoxib capsules) studies involving more than 6,000 patients have not shown any significant safety issues and are expected to continue to completion.

4 Oct 2004

Researchers show gossypol – a drug refined from cottonseed oil is a cancer treatment booster

New research has opened up the prospect that gossypol – a drug refined from cottonseed oil and previously tried and abandoned as a male contraceptive – could boost the effectiveness of treatment for prostate tumours and possibly other common cancers as well.

30 Sep 2004

Australian nanotech Starpharma to develop a second generation microbicide for the prevention of infection by HIV

Melbourne-based nanotechnology company Starpharma will lead a consortium to develop a second generation microbicide for the prevention of infection by HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

30 Sep 2004

Efficacy News and Research

Herbal, nutritional supplements linked to side effects ranging from dry eye to retinal hemorrhages and transient visual loss

Researchers stimulate the body to repair tissue damaged by peripheral arterial obstructive disease

Technique for genetically modifying blood stem cells brings cure for blood diseases closer

Novel treatment using ketamine has shown success in reducing the severe pain caused by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Study finds new vaccine against pneumococcal has minor adverse effects but continued surveillance is warranted

A novel gene therapy strategy may help reduce seizures in adults suffering from epilepsy

Protein called Mrp4 blocks the access of the anti-cancer drug topotecan into the brain

Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug eases symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee

Study increases likelihood that MRI could be used as predictive technology to determine which patients should be placed on statin therapy for atherosclerosis

Vioxx: an unequal partnership between safety and efficacy

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery can help people suffering from chronic fatigue caused by sinusitis

Low-fat meals reduce effectiveness of vitamin E supplementation

Autism decision is turning point for autistic children in Northern Ireland

Significant progress in development of an animal model of smallpox that closely resembles human disease

Minor depression is effectively treated with medication

Immediate voluntary world-wide withdrawal of Vioxx (rofecoxib)

FDA fast tracks Genaera's drug for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration

Data demonstrate that Celebrex does not increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients with arthritis and pain

Researchers show gossypol – a drug refined from cottonseed oil is a cancer treatment booster

Australian nanotech Starpharma to develop a second generation microbicide for the prevention of infection by HIV

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