New Drug Delays Intestinal Cancer
A new drug appears to dramatically delay the progression of a rare type of intestinal cancer in those who've run out of other options because their tumors have outsmarted even the latest high-tech drug.
The drug, Sutent, or sunitinib malate appears to shrink tumors by simultaneously starving them of blood, blocking signals that tell them to grow and spread, and causing cancer cells to die, according to research findings presented Friday at the European Cancer Conference in Paris.
The drug, made by Pfizer which also funded the new research, belongs to a new class of cancer drugs that target multiple tumor activities at once. Doctors are hopeful it will usher in a new era of combinations of finely targeted drugs that can greatly improve the prognosis of cancer patients, much like triple-combination therapy revolutionized HIV treatment, the Associated Press reports.
Sutent was tested against a type of cancer called gastrointestinal stromal tumor, or GIST, a cancer that had a dire prognosis until the drug Gleevec, or imatinib, came along about five years ago. Gleevec, however, stops working for most patients within two years as the tumor develops resistance to it. In the study, two-thirds of 312 patients on four continents, all of whom had developed resistance to Gleevec, got the new drug, while one-third received a fake treatment. Sutent delayed the time to progression of the tumor from 6.4 weeks to 27.3 weeks, the study found. It is too early to tell whether the treatment is saving lives.
The study's leader, Dr. George Demetri, associate professor of medicine at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, said the findings will help scientists think more creatively about more complicated cancers.
Older Americans Reluctant to Use Sleep Meds: Survey
Nearly half (46 percent) of older Americans get less than seven hours of sleep a night and 25 percent believe they have a sleep problem, says a Gallup survey released Thursday by the International Longevity Center-USA.
Nearly 40 percent of those with sleep problems cited worry as a cause of their inability to get a good night's sleep. That issue was especially common for those who were primary caregivers for a parent or other family member.
The telephone survey of 1,003 adults 50 years and older also found that many of them have concerns about taking prescription sleep medications. Those concerns include addiction (68 percent), long-term side effects (77 percent), and next-day grogginess. Only nine percent said they felt prescription sleep aids were "very safe."
Most of the respondents (80 percent) recognize the importance of sleep to their health, but many who experience sleep problems aren't receiving treatment. The survey found that 53 percent of the older adults who talked with their health providers about a sleep problem aren't receiving treatment.
Men were more likely than women (38 percent vs. 27 percent) to say they get a good night's sleep seven nights a week. The 46 percent of respondents who rated their health as "excellent" were most likely to say they get a good night's sleep every night of the week, the survey found.
Johnson & Johnson Rethinking Guidant Purchase
Johnson & Johnson is threatening to pull out of its $25.4 billion deal to buy trouble-plagued Guidant Corporation, the second largest maker of heart devices in the United States.
The deal was announced last December, but since then Guidant has been hammered by safety issues and product recalls. For example, in May Guidant was forced to recall a defibrillator model that had an electrical problem that could be fatal to patients, The New York Times reported.
On Wednesday, Johnson & Johnson released a statement that said the company believes the recalls and federal investigations dogging Guidant have materially affected its short-term results and long-term outlook. Because of those concerns, Johnson & Johnson wants to pay less for Guidant than the previously negotiated $76 per share.
In response, Guidant said any impact from the recalls would be short term and that Johnson & Johnson was legally bound to complete the deal by Friday, under the terms of the deal announced last year.
More Estrogen Makes Women More Attractive to Men
High levels of estrogen make women appear more feminine and attractive to men, according to a U.K. study in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society.
The study also said that make-up can easily obscure these subtle facial clues about women's estrogen levels. The findings suggest that the way a man perceives the attractiveness of a woman's face is directly linked to physical indicators of fertility and good reproductive health, The Times of London reported.
Desirable facial attributes include a feminine jawline, bright, clear eyes and a less-pallid complexion, the study found.
Researchers photographed 56 women, average age 20, and showed their photos to 15 female and male volunteers. The study participants rated the faces of women with higher estrogen levels as the most attractive and as being in better overall health, The Times reported.
3 Indonesian Children Hospitalized With Bird Flu Symptoms
Three Indonesian children related to a woman who may have died of avian flu are being treated in a hospital for symptoms of the illness, Agence France Presse reported.
The girl and two boys, suffering from coughs and high fevers, were admitted to the hospital on Tuesday and are being tested for the potentially deadly HFN1 bird flu strain. The children are aged 5 months, 10 months and 8 years.
So far, bird flu has killed at least four people in Indonesia and three others have been infected but survived. The virus has killed more than 60 people in Asia since 2003.
In Africa, veterinary experts meeting in Rwanda warned that a bird flu outbreak could devastate the continent because many countries lack proper monitoring or facilities to deal with such an emergency, AFP reported.
Meanwhile, Swiss drug maker Roche is committed to boosting production of its anti-viral drug Tamiflu, the European Commission said Thursday.
EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said that Roche Chief Executive Franz Humer promised that Roche would not allow patents to stand in the way of making Tamiflu licensing arrangements with other companies, the Associated Press reported.
Tamiflu is currently considered the most effective medical defense against a potential outbreak of bird flu in humans. Roche has been under international pressure to loosen its control on production of Tamiflu, which is in short supply as businesses and nations stockpile the drug.
Roche says it's in discussions with other companies and governments about increasing Tamiflu production, the AP reported.
In related news, Swiss drug maker Novartis said it would consider constructing an influenza vaccine production plant in the United States. The news comes amid worries that a proposed Novartis deal to take over Chiron, the only major U.S. producer of flu vaccine, would leave the U.S. dependent on foreign companies for flu vaccine supplies, The New York Times reported.
Food Fact:
Fennel club.
Seeds of this parsley kin can be a life saver if you have stomach pain. Fennel has long been part of folk remedies for indigestion, colic, bloating and heartburn, and modern research has shown that fennel seeds are rich in anethole, a compound that relaxes the smooth muscles of the stomach and acts as an anti-spasmodic. When shopping for fennel bulbs, avoid any that have droopy tops, are brownish or look dry. At home, store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, and sprinkle lemon juice on sliced fennel to prevent browning. Fennel has an affinity for fish. It's particularly good with grilled mackerel and sardines.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Bring the kids!
Your children will pick up your attitudes about exercise -- make it a positive one! If you see exercise as a chore, your children will, too. Think of activities that you can do with your kids. Get them off to a good start -- and off the fast food -- with fun activities that make the whole family more active.
FAQ of the day:
What are the fattiest foods?
The worst offenders are stick margarine, solid vegetable shortening and commercially baked products, including donuts, cookies, cakes, pies and pastries. Foods that seem a little more wholesome, such as toaster waffles and wheat crackers, can also contain significant amounts of trans fats. A general rule of thumb: The higher the total fat in a product, and the higher hydrogenated oils appear in the ingredient list, the more trans fat it contains.
No comments:
Post a Comment