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F.D.A. Approves a Drug for Late-Stage Pancreatic Cancer

In a clinical trial, the Celgene drug Abraxane prolonged the lives of patients by a little less than two months on average.

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Celgene’s drug Abraxane for use in treating advanced pancreatic cancer, supplementing the thin arsenal available to fight the disease.

In a clinical trial, Abraxane prolonged the lives of patients by a little less than two months on average. Pancreatic specialists have said the drug was a welcome, if modest, advance against a disease that is extremely tough to treat.

“Patients with pancreatic cancer are often diagnosed after the cancer has advanced and cannot be surgically removed,” Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of cancer drugs for the F.D.A., said in a statement on Friday. “In these situations, and in situations where the cancer has progressed following surgery, options like Abraxane can help prolong a patient’s life.”

There will be about 45,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed in the United States this year and about 38,000 deaths, making it the fourth-leading cause of cancer death.

Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer typically live only half a year. For years, researchers have tried to improve that by adding drugs to the standard treatment, gemcitabine, but without notable success.

Abraxane did provide a statistically significant improvement in survival. In its main clinical trial, patients who received Abraxane and gemcitabine lived a median of 8.5 months, compared to 6.7 months for those receiving only gemcitabine.

Abraxane will compete with Folfirinox, a combination of four generic drugs. Folfirinox appears to extend survival by a greater amount than Abraxane, but doctors say it is harder to tolerate and administer.

Abraxane is a novel form of paclitaxel, also known by the brand name Taxol. In Abraxane, the paclitaxel is bound in tiny particles to albumin, a human protein. That is said to enhance delivery of the drug to the tumor and reduce side effects.

Still, Abraxane can depress levels of white blood cells and platelets and raise the risk of bacterial blood stream infections and lung inflammation, the F.D.A. said.

Abraxane was approved to treat breast cancer in 2005 and lung cancer in 2012. Sales last year were $427 million. Celgene’s total revenue that year was $5.5 billion, mostly from the multiple myeloma drug Revlimid.

Geoffrey Meacham, a biotechnology analyst at J. P. Morgan, said in a note on Friday that he expected Abraxane to “rapidly becomes the standard of care” for pancreatic cancer. He said sales for that use could eventually exceed $750 million annually.

Celgene said the drug would cost $6,000 to $8,000 a month.

Source: Newyork times

 

Is there an anti-inflammatory diet?

foods-for-inflammation

When inflammation is out of control—as in rheumatoid arthritis—it can damage the body.

Inflammation is part of the body’s immune response; without it, we can’t heal. But when it’s out of control—as in rheumatoid arthritis—it can damage the body. Plus, it’s thought to play a role in obesity, heart disease, and cancer.

Foods high in sugar and saturated fat can spur inflammation. “They cause overactivity in the immune system, which can lead to joint pain, fatigue, and damage to the blood vessels,” says Scott Zashin, MD, clinical professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Other foods may curb inflammation. Add these items to your plate today.

14 foods that fight Inflammation

Beetroot

This vegetable’s brilliant red color is a tip-off to its equally brilliant antioxidant properties: Beets (and beetroot juice) have been shown to reduce inflammation, as well as protect against cancer and heart disease, thanks to their hearty helping of fiber, vitamin C and plant pigments called betalains.

Fatty Fish

Oily fish, like salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines, are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to help reduce inflammation. To get the benefits, however, you need to eat fish several times a week, and it should be cooked in healthy way

Whole Grains

Consuming most of your grains as whole grains, as opposed to refined, white bread, cereal, rice, and pasta can help keep harmful inflammation at bay. That’s because whole grains have more fiber, which has been shown to reduce levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation in the blood, and they usually have less added sugar.

Dark Leafy Greens

Studies have suggested that vitamin E may play a key role in protecting the body from pro-inflammatory molecules called cytokines—and one of the best sources of this vitamin is dark green veggies, such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and collard greens. Dark greens and cruciferous vegetables also tend to have higher concentrations of vitamins and minerals—like calcium, iron, and disease-fighting phytochemicals—than those with lighter-colored leaves.

Nuts:

Another source of inflammation-fighting healthy fats is nuts—particularly almonds, which are rich in fiber, calcium, and vitamin E, and walnuts, which have high amounts of alpha-linolenic acid, a type of omega-3 fat. All nuts, though, are packed with antioxidants, which can help your body fight off and repair the damage caused by inflammation. Nuts (along with fish, leafy greens, and whole grains) are a big part of the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown to reduce inflammation in as little as six weeks.

Soy:

Several studies have suggested that isoflavones, estrogen-like compounds found in soy products, may help lower CRP and inflammation levels in women—and a 2007 animal study published in the Journal of Inflammation found that isoflavones also helped reduce the negative effects of inflammation on bone and heart health in mice.

Low fat Diary:

Milk products are sometimes considered a trigger food for inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, because some people have allergies or intolerances to casein, the protein found in dairy. But for people who can tolerate it, low-fat and nonfat milk are an important source of nutrients. Yogurt can also contain probiotics, which can reduce gut inflammation.

Peppers:

Colorful vegetables are part of a healthier diet in general,” says Dr. Costenbader. “As opposed to white potatoes or corn, colorful peppers, tomatoes, squash, and leafy vegetables have high quantities of antioxidant vitamins and lower levels of starch.” Bell peppers are available in a variety of colors, while hot peppers (like chili and cayenne) are rich in capsaicin, a chemical that’s used in topical creams that reduce pain and inflammation.

Tomatoes:

Juicy red tomatoes, specifically, are rich in lycopene, which has been shown to reduce inflammation in the lungs and throughout the body. Cooked tomatoes contain even more lycopene than raw ones, so tomato sauce works, too

Ginger and Turmeric

These spices, common in Asian and Indian cooking, have been shown in various studies to have anti-inflammatory properties. “While the evidence in terms of RA inflammation is not very strong, they are vegetables—and part of a healthy, vegetable-rich diet,” says Dr. Costenbader.

Garlics and onions

There’s a good reason why these pungent vegetables are known for their immunity-boosting properties. In test-tube and animal studies, garlic has been shown to work similarly to NSAID pain medications (like ibuprofen), shutting off the pathways that lead to inflammation. Onions contain similar anti-inflammatory chemicals, including the phytonutrient quercetin and the compound allicin, which breaks down to produce free radical-fighting sulfenic acid.

olive oil:

“Anything that fits into a heart-healthy diet is probably also good for inflammation—and that includes healthy, plant-based fats like olive oil,” says Dr. Zashin, author of Natural Arthritis Treatment. In fact, a 2010 Spanish study found that the Mediterranean diet’s myriad health benefits may be largely due to its liberal use of olive oil, especially the extra-virgin kind. The compound oleocanthal, which gives olive oil its taste, has been shown to have a similar effect as NSAID painkillers in the body.

Berries;

All fruits can help fight inflammation, because they’re low in fat and calories and high in antioxidants. But berries, especially, have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties—possibly because of anthocyanins, the powerful chemicals that gives them their rich color.

Cherries:

In a 2012 presentation, Oregon Health & Science University researchers suggested that tart cherries have the “highest anti-inflammatory content of any food.” Studies have found that tart cherry juice can reduce the inflammation in lab rats’ blood vessels by up to 50%; in humans, meanwhile, it’s been shown to help athletes improve their performance and reduce their use of anti-inflammatory pain meds.

 

 

12 Reasons to Stop Multitasking Now!

texting-and-driving-multitaskingTexting while walking, sending emails during meetings, chatting on the phone while cooking dinner. In today’s society, doing just one thing at a time seems downright luxurious, even wasteful.

But chances are, you’re not doing yourself (or your boss, or your friends and family) any favors by multitasking your way through the day. Research shows that it’s not nearly as efficient as we like to believe, and can even be harmful to our health. Here are 12 reasons why you should stop everything you’re doing—well, all but one thing—and rethink the way you work, socialize, and live your life

Chobani recalls moldy yogurt after complaints, FDA probe

Chobani_AP2.jpgU.S. yogurt-maker Chobani is officially recalling moldy cups of Greek yogurt after customers complained that the product tasted runny and fizzy and some reported illnesses.

The recall, announced on Thursday, follows nearly a week after Chobani sought to quietly remove the yogurt from store shelves without alerting the public, a strategy the U.S. Food and Drug Administration called “unusual.”

Privately-held Chobani said it is removing the product “due to some claims of illness,” though a spokeswoman, Amy Juaristi, downplayed the claims, saying the mold, which can occur in dairy, “is unlikely to have ill health effects.” Juaristi said tainted cups would be replaced.

FDA spokeswoman Tamara Ward said the agency is continuing its discussions with Chobani. She declined to give further details. On Wednesday Ward said the FDA was looking into the situation to assess the level of risk to the public and to determine whether the company was communicating appropriately with the public.

Chobani’s problems began last Friday, when unhappy yogurt-eaters began to complain, flooding the company’s Facebook and Twitter pages reporting foul smells, bloated containers, and gastrointestinal distress.

Some commented on the characteristically thick Greek yogurt’s “runny” consistency and said they would not buy Chobani again.

The company had asked some retailers last week to remove certain yogurt cups from store shelves but did not issue a formal recall.

Thursday’s recall was “a voluntary decision to remove any final products that might have been out there,” Juaristi said.

The private company said the problem had affected less than 5 percent of its production and that 95 percent of the tainted cups had been identified by Thursday morning. The mold was limited to yogurt cups produced at Chobani’s Idaho plant. The company also has a plant in New York and one in Australia.

Chobani said cups with the code 16-012 and expiration dates between 9/11/2013 and 10/7/2013 would be replaced.

Euromonitor, a sales tracking firm, ranks Chobani the second-best selling brand in the U.S. Greek-style yogurt market, after Yoplait. Chobani’s chief executive and founder is Hamdi Ulukaya.

Greek-style yogurt, which is thicker, creamier and often higher in protein than other types of yogurt, now makes up more than 40 percent of the U.S. yogurt market, Reuters has reported.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/09/06/chobani-recalls-moldy-yogurt-after-complaints-fda-probe/#ixzz2eC1qecVf

 

US teen use of e-cigarettes doubled, CDC reports

Twice as many U.S. middle and high school students used electronic cigarettes, which mimic traditional cigarettes and deliver nicotine as a vapor, in 2012 than a year earlier, and these teens could be on the way to a lifelong addiction, according to a government report released on Thursday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 10 percent of high school students surveyed reported using e-cigarettes in 2012, up from 4.7 percent in 2011.

Some 2.7 percent of middle school students surveyed had used e-cigarettes in 2012, up from 1.4 percent in 2011.

Last year, nearly 1.8 million middle and high school students nationwide tried e-cigarettes, the report said.

“The increased use of e-cigarettes by teens is deeply troubling,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden. “Nicotine is a highly addictive drug. Many teens who start with e-cigarettes may be condemned to struggling with a lifelong addiction to nicotine and conventional cigarettes.”

E-cigarettes are battery operated, reusable devices, designed to mimic the size and appearance of traditional cigarettes but deliver nicotine in vapor form instead of tobacco or other carcinogens.

Twelve states have laws preventing e-cigarette sales to minors – California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin. New York banned e-cigarette smoking within 100 feet of an entrance to a public or private school.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced plans two years ago to regulate e-cigarettes but has not yet done so.

Lorillard Tobacco Company, which makes e-cigarettes, last year said on its website that it does not market the product specifically for teens. Its nicotine cartridges come in flavors such as cherry crush and vivid vanilla, which is promoted as tasting like ice cream.

A spokesperson for Lorillard did not respond to requests for comment.

The survey also found that 76.3 percent of students who used e-cigarettes in a 30-day period also smoked conventional cigarettes at the same time.

E-cigarettes have been promoted as an aid to stop smoking but both the CDC and FDA warn that there is no conclusive evidence the product aids in quitting smoking.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/

 

Whooping cough reaches epidemic level in Texas

People of all ages can get whooping cough, but infants have the greatest risk of contracting it

Whooping cough has reached epidemic proportions in Texas and could hit a 50-year high, a health official said on Thursday.

Nearly 2,000 cases of whooping cough have been reported in Texas this year. Two infants, who were too young to receive the whooping cough vaccine, have died, state officials said. The number of cases likely will surpass the recent high of 3,358 in 2009, according to the state health services department.

“We’re clearly having an epidemic,” said Dr. Carol Baker, the director of the Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.

Dr. Lisa Cornelius, Texas infectious diseases medical officer, said: This is extremely concerning. Pertussis is highly infectious and can cause serious complications, especially in babies, so people should take it seriously.”

Pertussis or whooping cough is a bacterial infection that often begins with cold-like symptoms and a mild cough, followed a week or two later by severe coughing that can last for several weeks, health officials said.

It spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. People of all ages can get whooping cough, but infants have the greatest risk of contracting it, they said.

The Texas Department of State Health Services issued an alert this week urging doctors to screen for whooping cough and encouraging residents to get vaccinated.

Last year, 49 states reported an increase in whooping cough cases, but most states have experienced declines so far this year, data shows. Researchers attribute the rise to a new type of pertussis vaccine, which is safer but less effective over the long run, and to a decline in the number of children being vaccinated.

Whooping cough vaccinations for infants can’t be completed until babies are four months old, Baker said.

Most children are vaccinated by the time they reach adolescence, Baker said. Vaccination is recommended during pregnancy to protect the mother and the newborn, she said.

Last year, more than 41,000 cases of whooping cough were reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Infants had the highest rate, followed by children ages 7 to 10.

In 2012, 49 states and the District of Columbia reported increases in cases compared to the prior year, the CDC said. Most had double or triple the rate of prior years.

So far in 2013, only 16 states are ahead of last year’s pace for whooping cough, the data showed. More than half are in the South.
The article originally appeared in fox news

 

Schools sending BMIs reports of students’ to parents

Many students already stress about the grades on their report cards, but now, some students are worrying about a whole new scholastic measurement: their body mass index (BMI).

Schools in 19 states have started to conduct annual weigh-ins for students that test for BMI, Medical Daily reported. Their measurements are then sent home to parents as reports, which note whether or not the child is considered overweight.

Kids have started calling the reports “fat letters.”

Many families and health experts have started pushing back against the reports, arguing they could damage children’s self-esteem.  However, others say the reports are the best way to know whether a child’s weight is healthy or unhealthy.

An individual’s BMI is calculated by dividing their weight by the square of their height.  This figure is then compared to growth charts accounting for the person’s age and gender, in order to understand how they compare to the rest of their peers.  BMI is the primary measurement used to determine if a person is considered overweight and obese.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third of children and adolescents are considered overweight or obese.  These children are at increased risk for a variety of health issues, such as asthma, sleep apnea, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/09/06/fat-letters-schools-sending-reports-students-bmis-to-parents/#ixzz2eBaHRn7O

 

Arsenic levels in rice not dangerous in short term, FDA says

The samples cover most types of rice grain and rice-based foods and beverages consumed in the United States,” the agency said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that after testing 1,300 samples of rice and rice products, it has determined that the amount of detectable arsenic is too low to cause immediate or short-term negative health effects.

The next step, the agency said, will be to use new tools that provide greater specificity about different types of arsenic present in foods, to analyze the effect of long-term exposure to low levels of arsenic in rice.

The FDA’s review comes after Consumer Reports urged the government in 2012 to limit arsenic in rice after tests of more than 60 popular products – from Kellogg’s Rice Krispies to Gerber infant cereal – showed that most contained some level of inorganic arsenic, a known human carcinogen.

The consumer watchdog group said some varieties of brown rice – including brands sold by Whole Foods Markets Inc and Wal-Mart Stores Inc – contained particularly significant levels of inorganic arsenic.

In response to the FDA report, Urvashi Rangan, Consumer Reports’ director of consumer safety and sustainability, said the FDA’s interest in the subject was “great news” and that the agency’s findings mirrored its own findings.

“It doesn’t mean consumers need to throw out all the rice in their cabinets, but they should be aware that the problem is important,” she said.

The FDA said on Friday that the samples it tested came from various types of rice grains, including white, jasmine and basmati. They also included samples from rice products including infant cereals, pasta, grain-based bars, cookies, pastries and drinks such as beer, rice wine and rice water.

“Taken together, the samples cover most types of rice grain and rice-based foods and beverages consumed in the United States,” the agency said.

The average levels of inorganic arsenic – the most toxic kind – ranged from 2.6 to 7.2 micrograms per serving of rice grains. Instant rice came in at the low end of the range and brown rice at the high end.

In foods, arsenic may be present as inorganic arsenic or organic arsenic, the FDA said. Together they are referred to as total arsenic.

Among rice products the level of inorganic arsenic ranged from 0.1 to 6.6 micrograms per serving, with infant formula at the low end and rice pasta at the high end. The levels are not high enough to cause any short-term health effects, the agency said.

The average amount of inorganic arsenic among 99 samples of brown rice was 7.2 micrograms, with some samples originating in the United States running as high as 10 micrograms. The average amount in instant rice was 2.6 micrograms.

The FDA declined to name specific products among the samples it tested, saying that while the total number of samples was large enough to accurately measure average levels of arsenic, it was not large enough to evaluate specific brands.

Some companies source their rice from different locations, which may result in samples from the same brand having different levels of arsenic over time, the agency said. It will conduct a risk assessment to consider how much arsenic is consumed from rice products and whether there are variations in health effects for certain segments of the population.

Once complete, the assessment will help the agency determine whether further action is necessary, the FDA said. It is also conducting additional sampling to broaden its data on infant and toddler products.

In the meantime, the FDA recommends that consumers eat a well-balanced diet to minimize the potential negative effects of consuming too much of any one food. It said wheat, barley and oats are among the nutritious grains that consumers can eat to vary their diet.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/09/06/arsenic-levels-in-rice-not-dangerous-in-short-term-fda-says/#ixzz2eBWnYqBT

 

Countries with more wealth have higher Alzheimer’s risk

People living in wealthier countries with better access to clean water and good hygiene may have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, Medical News Today reported.

In a study published in the journal Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, researchers analyzed data from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report in 2009.

They noted that countries with better access to clean drinking water, lower rates of infectious disease and a greater percentage of the population residing in urban areas all had higher rates of Alzheimer’s disease, according to Medical News Today.

Researchers explained their findings using the ‘hygiene hypothesis,’ which suggests that people who live in places with access to better hygiene have less exposure to certain germs. With no harmful bacteria to fight, people’s immune system’s develop insufficiently, putting them at a higher risk for autoimmune diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.

“The ‘hygiene hypothesis,’ which suggests a relationship between cleaner environments and a higher risk of certain allergies and autoimmune diseases, is well-established,” lead study author Dr. Molly Fox, from the University of Cambridge, said. “We believe we can now add Alzheimer’s to this list of diseases.”

Currently, more than 50 percent of people with Alzheimer’s live in the developing world, and by 2025, this figure is expected to rise to more than 70 percent, according to Fox.

“An awareness of this by-product of increasing wealth and development could encourage the innovation of new strategies to protect vulnerable populations from Alzheimer’s,” Fox said.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/09/06/countries-with-more-wealth-better-hygiene-have-higher-alzheimers-risk/#ixzz2eBSsKetK

 

Game consoles contain 5 times more germs than toilet seats

http://campredwood.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/video-game-consoles.jpgA new study has found that game consoles have five times more germs than toilet seats.

According to the study, the hand-held controllers contain on average 7,863 germs per 100 square centimeters – that`s five times more than a toilet seat which has 1,600, the Mirror reported.

Children`s toys, garden – trampolines, bikes and balls also have more bugs.

The trampoline is worst among household items, with 640,000 germs in every 100 square centimeters – an area about the size of a coaster.

Researchers swabbed everyday things around the home for bacteria including E.coli, APC and Enterobacteriaceae.

Chair and sofa arms harbour 19,200 germs per 100 square centimeters – 12 times the amount on a loo seat, says the study carried out by Domestos and UNICEF.

And fridge handles have 7,474 bacteria over the same measure