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Antidepressant drugs may be associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour

Antidepressant drugs may be associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour, particularly in the early stages of treatment, shows new evidence in this week's BMJ.

20 Feb 2005

Olmesartan improves blood supply to kidneys

How do medications that block the renin-angiotensin system (RAS blockers) work to protect against kidney disease in people with diabetes? At least partly by improving the blood supply to the kidneys, suggests a study in the April Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

17 Feb 2005

Vioxx doubles risk of heart attacks and strokes

The largest prospective trial ever examining the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx as a chemoprevention agent found that the risk of developing a cardiovascular "event" - heart attacks and/or strokes - was almost double in patients who received the drug, compared to patients who took the placebo, according to a study out Feb. 15 on-line in The New England Journal of Medicine.

15 Feb 2005

Genetically engineered potatoes offer new hope in the fight against the Hepatitis B

Genetically engineered potatoes offer new hope in the fight against the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), an acute sometimes fatal form of viral hepatitis caused by a DNA virus that persists in the blood serum and is transmitted by sexual contact or by transfusion or by ingestion of contaminated blood or other bodily fluids.

14 Feb 2005

FDA approves medical laser for use in liposuction cosmetic surgery

Erchonia Medical has announced that their model Erchonia Neira 4L low-level laser is the first device of its kind to receive approval for use during liposuction by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

14 Feb 2005

Over-the-counter DHEA hormonal therapy may be an effective treatment for depression

The over-the-counter hormonal therapy known as DHEA may be an effective treatment of midlife-onset minor and major depression, according to a study in the February issue of The Archives of General Psychiatry. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), an adrenal androgen and neurosteroid is available as a supplement in the U.S.

7 Feb 2005

Gene therapy for heart patients with chest pains who do not benefit from other treatments

Individuals with moderate to severe chest pains (angina) who have not found relief from medication may benefit from a new gene therapy approach being used by cardiologists at Rush University Medical Center to grow new blood vessels in the heart.

3 Feb 2005

Can vegetables could help to prevent cervical cancer?

Researchers in South Wales are investigating the possibility that a chemical called Diindolylmethane (DIM), which is usually found in broccoli, sprouts and cabbage, could help to prevent cervical cancer.

27 Jan 2005

Trial of Etanercept for Wegners's disease shows no benefit against the autoimmune condition

A Johns Hopkins-led study designed to evaluate the ability of etanercept to maintain disease remissions in a serious autoimmune disorder has failed to show any benefit. Etanercept, also called Enbrel, is a common treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and other types of joint inflammation.

26 Jan 2005

Painful surgical adhesions may be preventable by taking the COX-2 inhibitor Celebrex

Adhesions – bands of scar tissue that bind together two internal body surfaces – develop in 55 percent to more than 90 percent of patients undergoing surgery, depending on the type of operation. They are part of normal healing, but when surfaces fuse together that shouldn't, serious pain and complications can result.

26 Jan 2005

Stem cells given in minimally invasive procedure improve heart function

Patients with severe congestive heart failure who had exhausted all other treatment options showed markedly improved heart function following a procedure in which their own stem cells were deployed directly into the heart by way of four tiny incisions in the chest, according to results of a trial presented today at the 41st Annual Meeting of the Society for Thoracic Surgery.

26 Jan 2005

Drug reviparin reduces the risk of death after heart attack

The drug reviparin (a low molecular weight heparin anticoagulant), when administered to patients with a heart attack, is effective in reducing the risk of death and the risk of a subsequent heart attack, according to a study in the January 26 issue of JAMA.

26 Jan 2005

Use of anti-inflammatory steroids for traumatic head injuries may actually increase the risk of death

The common use of anti-inflammatory steroids for traumatic head injuries like those from car crashes may actually increase the risk of death, according to a new review of studies about the treatment.

24 Jan 2005

Health authorities reviewing scientific data from trials evaluating Alzheimer's treatment, Reminyl

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, LLC (J&JPRD) announced that health authorities are reviewing scientific data from two clinical trials evaluating an investigational use of the company's Alzheimer's treatment, Reminyl (galantamine hydrobromide), in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.

24 Jan 2005

Serono completes enrollment in phase III trial of Serostim

Serono has announced that it has completed enrollment in its second multi-center, phase III trial of Serostim (somatropin [rDNA origin] for injection) in the treatment of HIV-Associated Adipose Redistribution Syndrome (HARS).

24 Jan 2005

Are NSAIDS enough for cancer pain?

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective in managing cancer pain with few side effects, according to a new review of a number of studies.

24 Jan 2005

Penicillin V and erythromycin have no benefit for most adults with acute laryngitis

Two common antibiotics, Penicillin V and erythromycin, appear to have no benefit for most adults with acute laryngitis, says a research team led by Dr. Ludovic Reveiz of Bogota, Colombia.

24 Jan 2005

NIH begins Phase 1 clinical trial of HIV vaccine candidate

GenVec announced today that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), has begun the second Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy adult volunteers of an HIV vaccine candidate jointly developed by the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC), a part of NIAID, and GenVec.

19 Jan 2005

Beneficial effects of essential fatty acids in children with autism and Asperger's syndrome

Nordic Naturals, a supplier of fish oil and essential fatty acid nutritional supplements, announced today the results of a successful pilot trial that showed beneficial effects of essential fatty acids (EFAs) on language and learning skills in children with autism and Asperger's syndrome.

19 Jan 2005

Physicians should avoid prescribing Bextra altogether

Physicians should avoid prescribing Bextra altogether, or use it only as a drug of last resort, says a researcher from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues in an editorial published on-line Jan. 17 in Circulation, a publication of the American Heart Association.

19 Jan 2005

Placebo News and Research

Antidepressant drugs may be associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour

Olmesartan improves blood supply to kidneys

Vioxx doubles risk of heart attacks and strokes

Genetically engineered potatoes offer new hope in the fight against the Hepatitis B

FDA approves medical laser for use in liposuction cosmetic surgery

Over-the-counter DHEA hormonal therapy may be an effective treatment for depression

Gene therapy for heart patients with chest pains who do not benefit from other treatments

Can vegetables could help to prevent cervical cancer?

Trial of Etanercept for Wegners's disease shows no benefit against the autoimmune condition

Painful surgical adhesions may be preventable by taking the COX-2 inhibitor Celebrex

Stem cells given in minimally invasive procedure improve heart function

Drug reviparin reduces the risk of death after heart attack

Use of anti-inflammatory steroids for traumatic head injuries may actually increase the risk of death

Health authorities reviewing scientific data from trials evaluating Alzheimer's treatment, Reminyl

Serono completes enrollment in phase III trial of Serostim

Are NSAIDS enough for cancer pain?

Penicillin V and erythromycin have no benefit for most adults with acute laryngitis

NIH begins Phase 1 clinical trial of HIV vaccine candidate

Beneficial effects of essential fatty acids in children with autism and Asperger's syndrome

Physicians should avoid prescribing Bextra altogether

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