Ulcer News and Research

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Twenty-five million Americans suffer from ulcers. An ulcer is a sore or hole in the lining of the stomach or duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). People of any age can get an ulcer and women are affected just as often as men.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that lives on the lining of the stomach. Although we used to think that spicy food, acid, and stress were the major causes of ulcers, we now know that nine out of ten ulcers are caused by H. pylori. Medicines that reduce stomach acid may make you feel better, but your ulcer may come back. Here's the good news: Since most ulcers are caused by this bacterial infection, they can be cured with the right antibiotics.

Syphilis epidemic in China

A range of unique biological and social forces are driving a substantial syphilis epidemic in China, according to the results of a national surveillance programme published in this week’s issue of The Lancet.

14 Jan 2007

Successor to Vioxx fails to quell concerns

When drug company Merck revealed the the results of a study this week over it's successor to Vioxx, the new arthritis drug Arcoxia, it did little to quell concerns about both the use and the safety of the new drug.

15 Nov 2006

FDA warns about risks of using decorative contact lenses

This Halloween season, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is again warning consumers about the serious risks of using decorative contact lenses without the appropriate involvement of an eye care professional.

30 Oct 2006

Link between antiretrovirals, leprosy probable

Increased access to antiretroviral drugs in developing countries has revealed a "startling and worrisome side effect" by exposing "hidden leprosy infection" in some HIV-positive people receiving antiretrovirals, the New York Times reports.

24 Oct 2006

Helicobacter pylori increases risk of lower stomach cancer, decreases risk of upper

The bacteria Helicobacter pylori substantially increase the risk of cancer in the lower stomach, but it may decrease the risk of cancer near the junction between the esophagus and the stomach, according to a study in the October 19 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

17 Oct 2006

WHO and sanofi-aventis expand programme to fight neglected tropical diseases

The World Health Organization (WHO) is expanding its program to fight some of the most neglected tropical diseases that destroy the lives and health of poor people.

10 Oct 2006

New understanding of how cells defend themselves

Biologists at the EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne) have unveiled a new twist in a metabolic pathway that cells use to defend themselves against toxins made by disease-causing bacteria.

21 Sep 2006

Risks of gastrointestinal ulcers linked to aspirin use might outweigh its benefits for the heart in certain patients

Doctors should consider whether patients are at high risk of stomach ulcers before prescribing aspirin treatment.

20 Sep 2006

Drug infliximab may help ease ulcerative colitis

In good news for patients with stubborn cases of ulcerative colitis, a serious intestinal disorder, a new research review suggests that the drug infliximab can be a useful alternative if other treatments don't work.

12 Sep 2006

Drug can quickly mobilize angiogenic cells to repair injury

To speed healing at sites of injury - such as heart muscle after a heart attack or brain tissue after a stroke - doctors would like to be able to hasten the formation of new blood vessels.

7 Sep 2006

First drug-eluting stent approved in Europe for most severe form of arterial disease in the leg

Cordis Endovascular, a division of Cordis Corporation, announced today that the Cypher Select Sirolimus-eluting stent received CE (Communite European) Mark in Europe for use in the treatment of severe claudication and critical limb ischemia (CLI) of infrapopliteal lesions, which is the most severe form of arterial disease in the leg.

6 Sep 2006

Aspirin may improve men's urinary health and prevent enlarged prostate

Researchers suggest that taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen may improve men's urinary health.

31 Aug 2006

Mayo clinic finds NSAIDs may prevent or delay enlarged prostate

Mayo Clinic researchers have found that taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen may prevent or delay benign prostatic hyperplasia.

30 Aug 2006

Treatment for STI's has a role in HIV prevention

The findings of a WHO/UNAIDS consultation presented at the XVI International AIDS Conference confirm that caring for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at the right stage of an epidemic and targeting them at key population groups can reduce HIV transmission.

16 Aug 2006