Cholesterol News and Research

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Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver, and found in the blood and in all cells of the body. Cholesterol is important for good health and is needed for making cell walls, tissues, hormones, vitamin D, and bile acid.

Isolated microalgal strain produces significant amounts of DGLA that helps reduce risk for heart attacks

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers have isolated a microalgal strain which produces large amounts of a polyunsaturated fatty acid that could reduce blood pressure, chronic inflammation and blood cholesterol level, reducing the risk for heart attacks.

4 May 2010

Only about half of obese adults advised by doctors to cut down on fatty foods: AHRQ

Only about half of obese adult Americans were advised by their doctors to cut down on fatty foods in 2006, and the rate had not significantly changed since 2002, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

4 May 2010

Statins may improve longevity of hip replacement surgery

The use of statins - drugs commonly prescribed to help lower cholesterol levels - may play an important role in decreasing complications among patients undergoing total hip replacement (THR), according to a study published in the May 2010 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS).

4 May 2010

Par Pharmaceutical signs exclusive licensing agreement with Glenmark to market ezetimibe in the U.S.

Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. today announced that its generic division, Par Pharmaceutical, has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Glenmark Generics Limited and Glenmark Generics Inc., USA to market ezetimibe 10 mg tablets, the generic version of Merck & Co. Inc.'s Zetia, in the U.S. Zetia is a cholesterol modifying agent with annual U.S. sales of approximately $1.4 billion, according to IMS Health data.

4 May 2010

FDA issues advisory on prostate cancer drugs

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonists, a class of medications primarily used to treat men with prostate cancer, have been associated with a small increased risk for diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and sudden death in men treated with one of the medications, according to a preliminary and ongoing analysis of several studies by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

3 May 2010

Today's Opinions and Editorials: The end of insurance rescissions, lessons from the health care rollout and the deficit panel's tough decisions

A lot of people laughed when Sue Lowden, the Nevada Republican running for the U.S. Senate, suggested last month that people start paying for their medical care with chickens. I didn't (Jonathan Cohn, 5/3).

3 May 2010

Belatacept preserves kidney function in transplant recipients better than cyclosporine, says study

Two-year results from phase III clinical trials show the experimental immunosuppressive drug belatacept can better preserve kidney function in kidney transplant recipients while preventing graft rejection when compared with the standard immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine.

3 May 2010

Some parts of cholesterol testing for children can be performed without fasting: Study

Physicians usually ask children to fast overnight before a cholesterol test. New research shows that this may not always be necessary.

3 May 2010

Pfizer to maintain top spot in prescription sales through mergers and acquisitions

The rheumatoid arthritis treatment Humira will replace Lipitor as the world's biggest-selling drug in 2016, but a familiar name, Pfizer, will still be the biggest seller of medicines after the patent cliff according to the World Preview 2016 report published today by EvaluatePharma, the premier provider of pharma and biotech analysis.

3 May 2010

Watson Pharmaceuticals sued in connection with filing ANDA for generic equivalent of Trilipix

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida, has been sued by Abbott Laboratories and Fournier Laboratories Ireland Ltd. in connection with the filing of Watson's Abbreviated New Drug Application for choline fenofibrate delayed-release capsules in the 45 mg and 135 mg strengths.

3 May 2010

Majority of patients who appear healthy may be at risk for cardiovascular disease

Three separate studies announced today at the American Society of Hypertension Inc.'s 25th Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition (ASH 2010) examined the cardiovascular consequences of relatively healthy patients - those who were asymptomatic and not classified as hypertensive or diabetic - and found that many patients who appear healthy may still be at risk for cardiovascular disease.

3 May 2010

CACS used to improve classification of risk for prediction of coronary heart disease events

Use of a score based on the amount of calcium in coronary arteries in addition to traditional risk factors improved the classification of risk for prediction of coronary heart disease events, and placed more individuals in the most extreme risk categories, according to a study in the April 28 issue of JAMA.

3 May 2010

Health outcomes explored at DDW 2010

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which may soon be the leading indication for liver transplant, is found to be significantly associated with worse transplant outcomes. In addition, a new tool for diagnosing NAFLD represents an alternative to liver biopsy, which is more expensive and prone to complications, and ultrasound and alfafeprotein blood test screening are an effective alternative to CT scan and MRI for patients with cirrhosis at high risk for hepatocellular cancer.

3 May 2010

Researchers use healthy person's complete genome sequence to predict risk for dozens of diseases

For the first time, researchers have used a healthy person's complete genome sequence to predict his risk for dozens of diseases and how he will respond to several common medications. The risk analysis, from the Stanford University School of Medicine, also incorporates more-traditional information such as a patient's age and gender and other clinical measurements.

30 Apr 2010

REGN reports net loss of $30.5M for first-quarter 2010

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2010. The Company reported a net loss of $30.5 million, or $0.38 per share (basic and diluted), for the first quarter of 2010 compared with a net loss of $15.4 million, or $0.19 per share (basic and diluted), for the first quarter of 2009.

30 Apr 2010

Excess urinary protein excretion increases risk of kidney, heart complications in people with hypertension

Healthy people with high blood pressure who excrete a slight excess of protein in the urine raise their risk of developing kidney and heart complications. According to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN), more attention should focus on the potential health effects of urinary protein excretion in individuals with high blood pressure (hypertension).

30 Apr 2010

Primary health care providers play key role in helping patients navigate Canadian health care system

For Canadians with chronic conditions, having a regular doctor doesn't necessarily mean they're receiving the safest or most supportive medical care. That doctor must also provide the basic elements of good primary care, two of which are: knowing their patient's history and helping to coordinate other aspects of their care, according to a Health Council of Canada bulletin released today.

29 Apr 2010

Panel finds insufficient evidence to support preventive measures for cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease

Many preventive measures for cognitive decline and for preventing Alzheimer's disease-mental stimulation, exercise, and a variety of dietary supplements-have been studied over the years. However, an independent panel convened this week by the National Institutes of Health determined that the value of these strategies for delaying the onset and/or reducing the severity of decline or disease hasn't been demonstrated in rigorous studies.

29 Apr 2010

Albireo to present study results of A3309 in patients with chronic constipation at 2010 DDW annual meeting

Albireo today announced that additional clinical data will be reported from a recent study assessing the safety, tolerability and efficacy of A3309 in patients with chronic constipation. A3309 is a first-in-class investigational compound for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic constipation (CC). The results will be presented during the 2010 Digestive Disease Week (DDW) annual meeting being held in New Orleans, US.

29 Apr 2010

Improved management practices can reduce annual costs from diabetes-related complications

Milliman Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today released an analysis detailing the economic burden of type 2 diabetes on major healthcare payers and quantifying the savings that could result from better patient management practices.

29 Apr 2010

Cholesterol News and Research

Further Reading

Isolated microalgal strain produces significant amounts of DGLA that helps reduce risk for heart attacks

Only about half of obese adults advised by doctors to cut down on fatty foods: AHRQ

Statins may improve longevity of hip replacement surgery

Par Pharmaceutical signs exclusive licensing agreement with Glenmark to market ezetimibe in the U.S.

FDA issues advisory on prostate cancer drugs

Today's Opinions and Editorials: The end of insurance rescissions, lessons from the health care rollout and the deficit panel's tough decisions

Belatacept preserves kidney function in transplant recipients better than cyclosporine, says study

Some parts of cholesterol testing for children can be performed without fasting: Study

Pfizer to maintain top spot in prescription sales through mergers and acquisitions

Watson Pharmaceuticals sued in connection with filing ANDA for generic equivalent of Trilipix

Majority of patients who appear healthy may be at risk for cardiovascular disease

CACS used to improve classification of risk for prediction of coronary heart disease events

Health outcomes explored at DDW 2010

Researchers use healthy person's complete genome sequence to predict risk for dozens of diseases

REGN reports net loss of $30.5M for first-quarter 2010

Excess urinary protein excretion increases risk of kidney, heart complications in people with hypertension

Primary health care providers play key role in helping patients navigate Canadian health care system

Panel finds insufficient evidence to support preventive measures for cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease

Albireo to present study results of A3309 in patients with chronic constipation at 2010 DDW annual meeting

Improved management practices can reduce annual costs from diabetes-related complications

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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