he Honourable Rona Ambrose, federal Minister of Labour, announced funding for a project administered through The Lung Association, Alberta & NWT that is designed to reduce tobacco use among employees who work in industries with higher than average smoking rates. Today's announcement is being made on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health.
"The Government of Canada is proud to be working with The Lung Association, Alberta & NWT and its partners to help curb cigarette smoking among employees in industry sectors that have been traditionally hard to reach," said Minister Ambrose. "I look forward to seeing the progress that is made on this front in the months and years ahead."
Funding from today's announcement will go towards the Smart Steps...towards a smoke-free life project. Although the Smart Steps program is designed for all employees in workplaces across Alberta, the project will focus on helping employees who work in industries with higher than average smoking rates quit smoking. The project hopes to reach young adults who work in retail, construction, transportation as well as the oil and gas sector with on-site tobacco cessation programming and personalized action plans to help them quit. Funding for this project will help deliver smoking cessation workshops in 25 additional workplaces located in seven cities across Alberta.
"We are thrilled about the funding support from Health Canada. It shows the government's commitment to tobacco reduction and the health of all Canadians," said Tony Hudson, The Lung Association, Alberta & NWT's President & CEO, "Today's investment by the federal government will ensure that our organization can provide workplaces across the province with an effective cessation program that will empower Albertans to quit smoking. This is an exciting moment for The Lung Association, and Albertans who want to breathe easier."
Smoking remains the most preventable cause of disease and premature death in Canada. More than 37,000 people die prematurely each year in Canada due to tobacco use and more than 830 non-smokers died in Canada from second-hand smoke. Given these statistics, Health Canada is pleased to have contributed $184,071 to the Smart Steps...towards a smoke-free life project.
For more information on Health Canada's tobacco control efforts, please visit http://www.gosmokefree.ca.
Source
Health Canada
Sep 29, 2009
Experts Recommend New Name, More Research On Nonmalignant Breast Tumor
On Thursday, a panel of medical experts convened by NIH recommended that the word "carcinoma" be removed from the name of a nonmalignant breast tumor called ductal carcinoma in situ because the current terminology can mislead some women into believing they are likely to develop breast cancer, Reuters reports. DCIS is a condition in which abnormal cells have grown in the milk duct but not spread to breast tissue. The panel said more research is needed to determine the likelihood that a woman's DCIS will progress into actual invasive breast cancer.
Since the start of widespread mammography in the late 1980s, DCIS diagnosis rates have increased sevenfold. By 2020, approximately one million U.S. women are expected to be living with the condition (Steenhuysen, Reuters, 9/24). More than 50,000 women are diagnosed with DCIS annually (Neergaard, AP/Baltimore Sun, 9/24).
Because DCIS is believed to be a risk factor for developing invasive breast cancer, the abnormal cells are removed, and only about 2% of DCIS patients die of breast cancer within 10 years. However, doctors have no way of knowing which women were at risk of developing invasive cancer and which would have remained healthy without treatment. In addition, there are vast differences in how the condition is treated, ranging from simple surgeries to chemotherapy or even protective removal of the opposite, healthy breast, the AP/Baltimore Sun reports (AP/Baltimore Sun, 9/24).
The panel concluded that a significant amount of new research is needed to determine which women can safely forgo intensive treatment (AP/Baltimore Sun, 9/24). "Despite having had a century of knowledge of the disease, we do not understand the natural history of DCIS, and probably never will," according to panel Chair Carmen Allegra, an oncologist at the University of Florida (Reuters, 9/24).
The panel said that changing the name of the condition will help doctors better convey that while growth should not be ignored, there is no need for panic. While the experts did not offer an alternative name, Allegra said that the current inclusion of "carcinoma" in the name "carries with it such a disproportionate level of anxiety relative to the relatively indolent nature of the disease" (AP/Baltimore Sun, 9/24). Panel member Arnold Schwartz, a surgical pathologist at the George Washington University Hospital, disagreed with the panel's recommendation to change the name. He said that many other cancers and precursor cancers include the name carcinoma in situ -- including those of the skin, head and neck, esophagus and bladder -- "without any emotional impact" (Reuters, 9/24).
Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
Since the start of widespread mammography in the late 1980s, DCIS diagnosis rates have increased sevenfold. By 2020, approximately one million U.S. women are expected to be living with the condition (Steenhuysen, Reuters, 9/24). More than 50,000 women are diagnosed with DCIS annually (Neergaard, AP/Baltimore Sun, 9/24).
Because DCIS is believed to be a risk factor for developing invasive breast cancer, the abnormal cells are removed, and only about 2% of DCIS patients die of breast cancer within 10 years. However, doctors have no way of knowing which women were at risk of developing invasive cancer and which would have remained healthy without treatment. In addition, there are vast differences in how the condition is treated, ranging from simple surgeries to chemotherapy or even protective removal of the opposite, healthy breast, the AP/Baltimore Sun reports (AP/Baltimore Sun, 9/24).
The panel concluded that a significant amount of new research is needed to determine which women can safely forgo intensive treatment (AP/Baltimore Sun, 9/24). "Despite having had a century of knowledge of the disease, we do not understand the natural history of DCIS, and probably never will," according to panel Chair Carmen Allegra, an oncologist at the University of Florida (Reuters, 9/24).
The panel said that changing the name of the condition will help doctors better convey that while growth should not be ignored, there is no need for panic. While the experts did not offer an alternative name, Allegra said that the current inclusion of "carcinoma" in the name "carries with it such a disproportionate level of anxiety relative to the relatively indolent nature of the disease" (AP/Baltimore Sun, 9/24). Panel member Arnold Schwartz, a surgical pathologist at the George Washington University Hospital, disagreed with the panel's recommendation to change the name. He said that many other cancers and precursor cancers include the name carcinoma in situ -- including those of the skin, head and neck, esophagus and bladder -- "without any emotional impact" (Reuters, 9/24).
Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
Sep 21, 2009
Wear Ease Designs The Latest Fashions With Mastectomy Patients In Mind
One in eight U.S. women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, and currently slightly more than half, 56 percent, undergo mastectomy. Few fashion options exist for those who don't seek reconstructive surgery or postpone it until after their treatment and recovery - a condition the clothier Wear Ease (http://www.WearEase.com) seeks to remedy.
"Fighting breast cancer is a big enough challenge," says Wear Ease owner Phyllis Keith. "We're trying to help ensure women don't also lose their self-esteem, dignity, and femininity."
Wear Ease designs and markets post-surgery and mastectomy bras, camisoles, loungewear, and lingerie. According to several specialty boutiques, its clothing is in vogue.
"We started ordering their Dawn post-surgery camisole because it's prettier than other brands, and they're flying off the shelves," says Michele Yett, a certified mastectomy fitter at Expressions Appearance Center at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, Calif. "They're great products - they come with fiber-filled breast forms and a pair of pouches for drain tubes and bulb syringes, plus they're comfortable, they come in a variety of colors, and they're very desirable in terms of femininity."
Pamela Ludwig, who owns Pretty in Pink Boutiques in Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., concurs. "The post-op camisole is so comfortable and stylish a lot of my patients wear them far beyond the post-op period," Ludwig says. "Often they wear a black one as a fashion camisole under a black blouse."
Retailers also say the Wear Ease line helps women feel whole. "They're very up to date with fashion trends," says Sheila Robertsdahl, a certified orthotic/mastectomy fitter and manager of the Just for Women boutique at MeritCare HealthCare Accessories in Fargo, N.D. "And with the way the pockets for the prostheses are designed, nobody can even tell it's a pocketed mastectomy garment."
Ludwig, a registered nurse who worked for 10 years in clinical oncology before opening Pretty in Pink in 2005, agrees, adding, "With off-the-shelf products like these available, women can achieve the look they want without having to undergo reconstructive surgery." However, she says many patients undergoing breast reconstruction use Wear Ease products, too. "A lot of times reconstruction doesn't give a woman the exact symmetrical look she wants," she says, "so you can sometimes fix that with a bra or partial prosthesis."
This month Wear Ease is introducing a brand-new line: the Alicia adjustable-strap camisole. "This beautiful camisole enables a woman who has undergone breast surgery to wear an alternative top just like she would have worn beforehand," Keith says. "It is designed to accommodate her breast forms and does not require her to wear a special bra underneath." Available in black, coral, kiwi green, and aqua blue, the Alicia camisole comes in S, M, L, XL, 1X, and 2X sizes.
The new product is a hit among retailers. "The new Alicia camisole with the lace is going to be a super seller," Robertsdahl says, and Yett says, "We all think it looks darling." "I love the colors available with the Alicia," Ludwig says. "They're very fresh - there's nothing else on the market with colors like those."
In addition to the Alicia and Dawn mastectomy camisoles, Wear Ease sells post-surgery bras and post-mastectomy nightgowns and T-shirts with reversible necklines. It also sells compression garments, including compression bras, slimmers, and shapers to facilitate healing after surgery or treat swelling in the trunk caused by Lymphedema. Wear Ease garments come standard with shelf bras and pockets for breast forms. All insurance, including Medicare, covers breast forms and pocketed breast-surgery bras and camisoles.
Keith founded Wear Ease in 2001 to offer the Sarah Bra designed for women with limited mobility. In 2005 the company diversified into the post-mastectomy specialty market and has since grown to include 20 products across five lines.
Source
Wear Ease
"Fighting breast cancer is a big enough challenge," says Wear Ease owner Phyllis Keith. "We're trying to help ensure women don't also lose their self-esteem, dignity, and femininity."
Wear Ease designs and markets post-surgery and mastectomy bras, camisoles, loungewear, and lingerie. According to several specialty boutiques, its clothing is in vogue.
"We started ordering their Dawn post-surgery camisole because it's prettier than other brands, and they're flying off the shelves," says Michele Yett, a certified mastectomy fitter at Expressions Appearance Center at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, Calif. "They're great products - they come with fiber-filled breast forms and a pair of pouches for drain tubes and bulb syringes, plus they're comfortable, they come in a variety of colors, and they're very desirable in terms of femininity."
Pamela Ludwig, who owns Pretty in Pink Boutiques in Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., concurs. "The post-op camisole is so comfortable and stylish a lot of my patients wear them far beyond the post-op period," Ludwig says. "Often they wear a black one as a fashion camisole under a black blouse."
Retailers also say the Wear Ease line helps women feel whole. "They're very up to date with fashion trends," says Sheila Robertsdahl, a certified orthotic/mastectomy fitter and manager of the Just for Women boutique at MeritCare HealthCare Accessories in Fargo, N.D. "And with the way the pockets for the prostheses are designed, nobody can even tell it's a pocketed mastectomy garment."
Ludwig, a registered nurse who worked for 10 years in clinical oncology before opening Pretty in Pink in 2005, agrees, adding, "With off-the-shelf products like these available, women can achieve the look they want without having to undergo reconstructive surgery." However, she says many patients undergoing breast reconstruction use Wear Ease products, too. "A lot of times reconstruction doesn't give a woman the exact symmetrical look she wants," she says, "so you can sometimes fix that with a bra or partial prosthesis."
This month Wear Ease is introducing a brand-new line: the Alicia adjustable-strap camisole. "This beautiful camisole enables a woman who has undergone breast surgery to wear an alternative top just like she would have worn beforehand," Keith says. "It is designed to accommodate her breast forms and does not require her to wear a special bra underneath." Available in black, coral, kiwi green, and aqua blue, the Alicia camisole comes in S, M, L, XL, 1X, and 2X sizes.
The new product is a hit among retailers. "The new Alicia camisole with the lace is going to be a super seller," Robertsdahl says, and Yett says, "We all think it looks darling." "I love the colors available with the Alicia," Ludwig says. "They're very fresh - there's nothing else on the market with colors like those."
In addition to the Alicia and Dawn mastectomy camisoles, Wear Ease sells post-surgery bras and post-mastectomy nightgowns and T-shirts with reversible necklines. It also sells compression garments, including compression bras, slimmers, and shapers to facilitate healing after surgery or treat swelling in the trunk caused by Lymphedema. Wear Ease garments come standard with shelf bras and pockets for breast forms. All insurance, including Medicare, covers breast forms and pocketed breast-surgery bras and camisoles.
Keith founded Wear Ease in 2001 to offer the Sarah Bra designed for women with limited mobility. In 2005 the company diversified into the post-mastectomy specialty market and has since grown to include 20 products across five lines.
Source
Wear Ease
Sep 10, 2009
Women Urged Not To Drink While Pregnant
Learning disabilities, mental health issues and behavior problems are just some of the issues that afflict babies exposed to alcohol in the womb, yet some doctors still tell their patients it is safe to have a drink now and then while pregnant.
Those hoping to change that are meeting on September 9, the ninth day of the ninth month, for a forum dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of drinking while pregnant and the plight of children and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). State legislators, health care professionals, parents, social workers and drug prevention and treatment specialists are coming together at Prairie State College in Chicago to mark international FASD Awareness Day.
A new brochure titled "It's Only Nine Months" is also being released by Prevention First, a nonprofit drug prevention organization participating in the forum, addressing some of the common questions and misperceptions women have about drinking while pregnant.
"Our research found that women are getting conflicting information about drinking while pregnant," explained Karel Ares, executive director of Prevention First. One focus group participant said she had heard that wine or Champagne were good for a woman's blood while pregnant, Ares said. Others thought drinking was safe in the first few months of pregnancy. "There is no research that proves that any amount of alcohol is safe at any time for unborn babies," Ares pointed out. "But there is a great deal of research about the many lifelong problems caused by permanent brain damage from drinking alcohol while pregnant."
Ares said that one of the most important groups of people she wants to get this message are doctors. "FASD is preventable, yet some obstetricians are still telling their patients they can have a glass of alcohol now and then. It's like playing Russian Roulette with babies' lives, and we are working to educate them about the risks."
Dr. Todd Ochs, a clinical instructor of pediatrics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, one of the scheduled speakers at the forum, said that part of the problem is that doctor training hasn't changed to reflect new research about pre-natal alcohol exposure. "We used to worry about women using heroin or other illegal drugs while pregnant, but there are too many variables with alcohol that we don't yet understand, so the best advice a doctor can give is that they shouldn't drink at all," Ochs noted.
Dr. Ochs has diagnosed and treated many children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and points out, "We know that drinking will cause damage, we just don't know how much damage will occur or what amount of alcohol will cause the damage, so why would anyone do something that's known to be harmful to a baby?"
Among the speakers at the FASD Day forum are State Rep. Al Riley (D-Hazel Crest), State Sen. Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest) and psychologist Dr. Jacquelyn Bertrand from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Source: Prevention First
Those hoping to change that are meeting on September 9, the ninth day of the ninth month, for a forum dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of drinking while pregnant and the plight of children and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). State legislators, health care professionals, parents, social workers and drug prevention and treatment specialists are coming together at Prairie State College in Chicago to mark international FASD Awareness Day.
A new brochure titled "It's Only Nine Months" is also being released by Prevention First, a nonprofit drug prevention organization participating in the forum, addressing some of the common questions and misperceptions women have about drinking while pregnant.
"Our research found that women are getting conflicting information about drinking while pregnant," explained Karel Ares, executive director of Prevention First. One focus group participant said she had heard that wine or Champagne were good for a woman's blood while pregnant, Ares said. Others thought drinking was safe in the first few months of pregnancy. "There is no research that proves that any amount of alcohol is safe at any time for unborn babies," Ares pointed out. "But there is a great deal of research about the many lifelong problems caused by permanent brain damage from drinking alcohol while pregnant."
Ares said that one of the most important groups of people she wants to get this message are doctors. "FASD is preventable, yet some obstetricians are still telling their patients they can have a glass of alcohol now and then. It's like playing Russian Roulette with babies' lives, and we are working to educate them about the risks."
Dr. Todd Ochs, a clinical instructor of pediatrics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, one of the scheduled speakers at the forum, said that part of the problem is that doctor training hasn't changed to reflect new research about pre-natal alcohol exposure. "We used to worry about women using heroin or other illegal drugs while pregnant, but there are too many variables with alcohol that we don't yet understand, so the best advice a doctor can give is that they shouldn't drink at all," Ochs noted.
Dr. Ochs has diagnosed and treated many children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and points out, "We know that drinking will cause damage, we just don't know how much damage will occur or what amount of alcohol will cause the damage, so why would anyone do something that's known to be harmful to a baby?"
Among the speakers at the FASD Day forum are State Rep. Al Riley (D-Hazel Crest), State Sen. Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest) and psychologist Dr. Jacquelyn Bertrand from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Source: Prevention First
Anticancer Compound Found In American Mayapple
A common weed called American mayapple may soon offer an alternative to an Asian cousin that's been harvested almost to extinction because of its anti-cancer properties. The near-extinct Asian plant, Podophyllyum emodi, produces podophyllotoxin, a compound used in manufacturing etoposide, the active ingredient in a drug used for treating lung and testicular cancer. Podophyllyum emodi is a cousin of the common mayapple weed found in the United States.
Podophyllotoxin is found in Indian mayapple (Podophyllum emodii Wall.), American mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum L.), and other species. Podophyllotoxin and its derivatives are used in several commercially available pharmaceutical products such as the anticancer drugs etoposide, teniposide, and etopophos, which are used in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer, lymphoblastic leukemia, testicular cancer, and brain tumors. Podophyllotixin derivatives are also used for the treatment of psoriasis and malaria, and some are being tested for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Currently, podophyllotoxin is produced commercially using the roots and rhizomes of Indian mayapple, an endangered species harvested from the wild in India, Pakistan, Nepal, and China.
Researchers at Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi recently set out to identify American mayapple types with high podophyllotoxin content. Valtcho D. Zheljazkov and colleagues at Mississippi State University published the research results in HortScience. According to Zheljazkov; "The objective of this study was to estimate podophyllotoxin concentration in American mayapple across its natural habitats in the eastern United States and to identify high podophyllotoxin types that could be used for further selection and cultivar development."
Mayapple has been long been grown as a cash crop in Europe and Russia, but has never been introduced or domesticated in the United States, although the idea was suggested by researchers more than 30 years ago. Previous research demonstrated that American mayapple leaves contain podophyllotoxin, making way for the development of American mayapple as a high-value crop for American growers. Zheljazkov explained that, until now, there has been no comprehensive study on the genetic resources of American mayapple colonies across the United States. "We hypothesized that there might be great variation with respect to podophyllotoxin content within American mayapple across the eastern United States."
The researchers studied the effect of location, plant nutrient concentration, and phytoavailable nutrients in soil on podophyllotoxin concentration in American mayapple across its natural habitats in the eastern United States. The study was the largest of its kind ever conducted; American mayapple leaves were collected from 37 mayapple colonies across 18 states.
This groundbreaking study confirmed that mayapple colonies in the eastern part of the United States can be used for the development of high podophyllotoxin cultivars, which could subsequently provide the base for commercial production of podophyllotoxin in the United States. The results from this study will help to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) map of the genetic resources of American mayapple in the U.S.
The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS Hortscience electronic journal web site: http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/44/2/349
Source:
Michael W. Neff
American Society for Horticultural Science
Podophyllotoxin is found in Indian mayapple (Podophyllum emodii Wall.), American mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum L.), and other species. Podophyllotoxin and its derivatives are used in several commercially available pharmaceutical products such as the anticancer drugs etoposide, teniposide, and etopophos, which are used in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer, lymphoblastic leukemia, testicular cancer, and brain tumors. Podophyllotixin derivatives are also used for the treatment of psoriasis and malaria, and some are being tested for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Currently, podophyllotoxin is produced commercially using the roots and rhizomes of Indian mayapple, an endangered species harvested from the wild in India, Pakistan, Nepal, and China.
Researchers at Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi recently set out to identify American mayapple types with high podophyllotoxin content. Valtcho D. Zheljazkov and colleagues at Mississippi State University published the research results in HortScience. According to Zheljazkov; "The objective of this study was to estimate podophyllotoxin concentration in American mayapple across its natural habitats in the eastern United States and to identify high podophyllotoxin types that could be used for further selection and cultivar development."
Mayapple has been long been grown as a cash crop in Europe and Russia, but has never been introduced or domesticated in the United States, although the idea was suggested by researchers more than 30 years ago. Previous research demonstrated that American mayapple leaves contain podophyllotoxin, making way for the development of American mayapple as a high-value crop for American growers. Zheljazkov explained that, until now, there has been no comprehensive study on the genetic resources of American mayapple colonies across the United States. "We hypothesized that there might be great variation with respect to podophyllotoxin content within American mayapple across the eastern United States."
The researchers studied the effect of location, plant nutrient concentration, and phytoavailable nutrients in soil on podophyllotoxin concentration in American mayapple across its natural habitats in the eastern United States. The study was the largest of its kind ever conducted; American mayapple leaves were collected from 37 mayapple colonies across 18 states.
This groundbreaking study confirmed that mayapple colonies in the eastern part of the United States can be used for the development of high podophyllotoxin cultivars, which could subsequently provide the base for commercial production of podophyllotoxin in the United States. The results from this study will help to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) map of the genetic resources of American mayapple in the U.S.
The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS Hortscience electronic journal web site: http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/44/2/349
Source:
Michael W. Neff
American Society for Horticultural Science
Australian Research Suggests HPV Vaccine Could Prevent Breast Cancer
Vaccinating women against the human papillomavirus (HPV) may prevent some forms of breast cancer and save tens of thousands of lives each year, new Australian research suggests.
Using genetic probes, researchers at the University of New South Wales tested cancerous breast cells and found several strains of HPVs known to have a high risk of initiating cancer of the cervix. HPV has a causal role in 90-95 per cent of cervical cancers.
The research was conducted by a team from the UNSW School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, led by Visiting Professor James Lawson, and is published in the British Journal of Cancer.
The team confirmed the presence of high-risk HPV in the nuclei of breast cancer epithelial cells in five (39 per cent) of 13 ductal carcinoma in situ and three (21 per cent) of 14 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) breast cancer specimens. Non-invasive or in situ cancers are those confined to the milk-making glands and do not spread to other parts of the breast or body. Invasive cancers such as IDC are more serious and account for 70-80 percent of all breast cancers.
"The finding that high risk HPV is present in a significant number of breast cancers indicates they may have a causal role in many breast cancers," says UNSW researcher, Dr Noel Whitaker, a co-author of the new report. "Confirming a cancer-causing role for HPV in some breast cancers establishes the possibility of preventing some breast cancers by vaccination against HPV," he says.
The idea that HPV has an involvement in breast cancer is controversial. Scientific reports from 15 countries around the world have identified the presence of high-risk types of HPV in breast tissue and breast cancer specimens.
But those studies have also showed widely varying results, with the prevalence of HPV-positive breast cancer in ranging from as low as four per cent to as high as 86 per cent, and have been clouded by difficulties in detecting the virus in breast specimens.
As well, the genetic probe technique used - polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - has been criticized for its propensity for contamination.
The technique is based on taking small genetic samples and rapidly copying them to provide a large enough sample to study.
The UNSW researchers addressed these issues by using a technique (in situ PCR) that avoids cross-contamination and that provides evidence about whether HPV genetic material is present in the nuclei of human breast cancer specimens. They validated their findings by looking for "telltale" changes linked to HPV such as enlarged nucleus surrounded by a characteristic "halo". The researchers are working on a new method that will make testing even quicker, cheaper and simpler.
Globally 1.1 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 500,000 women lost their life to the disease in 2004. Australia data reveals that 12,265 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and 2,618 women died from breast cancer in 2006. During the past quarter century 213,658 Australian women were diagnosed with breast cancer (1982 - 2005) and 63,632 died from the disease (1981 - 2006).
Source:
Dr Noel Whitaker
University of New South Wales
Using genetic probes, researchers at the University of New South Wales tested cancerous breast cells and found several strains of HPVs known to have a high risk of initiating cancer of the cervix. HPV has a causal role in 90-95 per cent of cervical cancers.
The research was conducted by a team from the UNSW School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, led by Visiting Professor James Lawson, and is published in the British Journal of Cancer.
The team confirmed the presence of high-risk HPV in the nuclei of breast cancer epithelial cells in five (39 per cent) of 13 ductal carcinoma in situ and three (21 per cent) of 14 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) breast cancer specimens. Non-invasive or in situ cancers are those confined to the milk-making glands and do not spread to other parts of the breast or body. Invasive cancers such as IDC are more serious and account for 70-80 percent of all breast cancers.
"The finding that high risk HPV is present in a significant number of breast cancers indicates they may have a causal role in many breast cancers," says UNSW researcher, Dr Noel Whitaker, a co-author of the new report. "Confirming a cancer-causing role for HPV in some breast cancers establishes the possibility of preventing some breast cancers by vaccination against HPV," he says.
The idea that HPV has an involvement in breast cancer is controversial. Scientific reports from 15 countries around the world have identified the presence of high-risk types of HPV in breast tissue and breast cancer specimens.
But those studies have also showed widely varying results, with the prevalence of HPV-positive breast cancer in ranging from as low as four per cent to as high as 86 per cent, and have been clouded by difficulties in detecting the virus in breast specimens.
As well, the genetic probe technique used - polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - has been criticized for its propensity for contamination.
The technique is based on taking small genetic samples and rapidly copying them to provide a large enough sample to study.
The UNSW researchers addressed these issues by using a technique (in situ PCR) that avoids cross-contamination and that provides evidence about whether HPV genetic material is present in the nuclei of human breast cancer specimens. They validated their findings by looking for "telltale" changes linked to HPV such as enlarged nucleus surrounded by a characteristic "halo". The researchers are working on a new method that will make testing even quicker, cheaper and simpler.
Globally 1.1 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 500,000 women lost their life to the disease in 2004. Australia data reveals that 12,265 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and 2,618 women died from breast cancer in 2006. During the past quarter century 213,658 Australian women were diagnosed with breast cancer (1982 - 2005) and 63,632 died from the disease (1981 - 2006).
Source:
Dr Noel Whitaker
University of New South Wales
Children With Autism Use Alternative Keyboard To Communicate With Their Families And Their World
Children With Autism Use Alternative Keyboard To Communicate With Their Families And Their World
Autism can build a wall of poor communication between those struggling with the condition and their families. While a personal computer can help bridge the divide, the distraction and complexity of a keyboard can be an insurmountable obstacle.
Using a unique keyboard with only two "keys" and a novel curriculum, teachers with Project Blue Skies are giving children with autism the ability to both communicate and to explore the online world.
At the heart of the project is a device called the OrbiTouch. Human-factors engineer Pete McAlindon of BlueOrb in Maitland, Fl., conceived of the concept behind the OrbiTouch more than a decade ago as a way to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and provide computer access to people with limited or no use of their fingers.
Developed with the support of two National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research awards (9661259 and 9801506), the concept of representing keyboard strokes with paired movements was critical to the design from the start.
"If you are unable to use a keyboard and mouse effectively or at all because of a physical disability, what chance do you have of using a computer?," asked McAlindon. "The OrbiTouch is designed to keep people with physical or developmental disabilities connected to their computers."
The Project Blue Skies curriculum is based on the functions of the OrbiTouch, which allows a user to input letters, symbols and any other command by independently manipulating two computer-mouse shaped grips forward, back, diagonally and to the sides.
For people with carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as other hand and finger ailments, the motions driving the OrbiTouch are far kinder than those for a keyboard.
With Project Blue Skies, the hardware is matched to lesson plans, training aids such as games, and assessment tools. The two-grip device is ideal for people with autism because it is less distracting than a keyboard and does not require finger motion.
In addition, the various letter and number combinations are created by matching color schemes indicated on the two grips, so the training curriculum matches well to a game-like environment.
Teachers guide the students and monitor their progress, ultimately helping the kids better communicate with their families. While the primary goal of Project Blue Skies is to help people with autism develop stronger social skills, McAlindon is working with partners to start integrating standard coursework into the program.
"I have watched Pete McAlindon grow and change over the last decade," said Sara Nerlove, now program director for NSF's Partnerships for Innovation program. "He has taken the concept that he developed as dissertation research, and using his skills as a human factors engineer, turned it into a very creative device to help people with disabilities. The result of his skill and persistence is the evolution of his technology into an ingenious adaptation, one that makes his goal of providing for persons with disabilities a sustainable effort."
McAlindon continues to work with his colleagues to find applications for his approach, most recently applying the system to video game controllers, allowing hundreds of thousands of online gamers to say goodbye to their keyboards using BlueOrb's Switchblade software. The gaming approach grew exponentially last year when it was paired to the launch of one of the largest online multiplayer games in the world.
Source:
Joshua A. Chamot
National Science Foundation
Autism can build a wall of poor communication between those struggling with the condition and their families. While a personal computer can help bridge the divide, the distraction and complexity of a keyboard can be an insurmountable obstacle.
Using a unique keyboard with only two "keys" and a novel curriculum, teachers with Project Blue Skies are giving children with autism the ability to both communicate and to explore the online world.
At the heart of the project is a device called the OrbiTouch. Human-factors engineer Pete McAlindon of BlueOrb in Maitland, Fl., conceived of the concept behind the OrbiTouch more than a decade ago as a way to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and provide computer access to people with limited or no use of their fingers.
Developed with the support of two National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research awards (9661259 and 9801506), the concept of representing keyboard strokes with paired movements was critical to the design from the start.
"If you are unable to use a keyboard and mouse effectively or at all because of a physical disability, what chance do you have of using a computer?," asked McAlindon. "The OrbiTouch is designed to keep people with physical or developmental disabilities connected to their computers."
The Project Blue Skies curriculum is based on the functions of the OrbiTouch, which allows a user to input letters, symbols and any other command by independently manipulating two computer-mouse shaped grips forward, back, diagonally and to the sides.
For people with carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as other hand and finger ailments, the motions driving the OrbiTouch are far kinder than those for a keyboard.
With Project Blue Skies, the hardware is matched to lesson plans, training aids such as games, and assessment tools. The two-grip device is ideal for people with autism because it is less distracting than a keyboard and does not require finger motion.
In addition, the various letter and number combinations are created by matching color schemes indicated on the two grips, so the training curriculum matches well to a game-like environment.
Teachers guide the students and monitor their progress, ultimately helping the kids better communicate with their families. While the primary goal of Project Blue Skies is to help people with autism develop stronger social skills, McAlindon is working with partners to start integrating standard coursework into the program.
"I have watched Pete McAlindon grow and change over the last decade," said Sara Nerlove, now program director for NSF's Partnerships for Innovation program. "He has taken the concept that he developed as dissertation research, and using his skills as a human factors engineer, turned it into a very creative device to help people with disabilities. The result of his skill and persistence is the evolution of his technology into an ingenious adaptation, one that makes his goal of providing for persons with disabilities a sustainable effort."
McAlindon continues to work with his colleagues to find applications for his approach, most recently applying the system to video game controllers, allowing hundreds of thousands of online gamers to say goodbye to their keyboards using BlueOrb's Switchblade software. The gaming approach grew exponentially last year when it was paired to the launch of one of the largest online multiplayer games in the world.
Source:
Joshua A. Chamot
National Science Foundation
Tips For Dealing With Fall Allergies From DampRid
For America's 60 million seasonal allergy sufferers, fall can be one of the most difficult times of year as ragweed begins to release its pollen into the air and mold and fungus spores increase due to the decay of leaves and other plants. Each ragweed plant produces one billion pollen grains per average season. This generally continues until the first frost, usually in October.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, allergies are considered the fifth leading chronic disease and are a major cause of work absenteeism, resulting in nearly four million missed or lost workdays each year.
Seasonal allergies can be further aggravated by poor air quality inside the home. Allergy sufferers can begin to take control of their condition by improving the quality of their home environment and create cleaner, fresher air. Moisture control is the key to preventing mold and mildew growth and the resulting allergens from forming. Removing excess moisture also protects against moisture damage to clothing, furniture and valuables and eliminates musty odors.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warns that exposure to mold can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Particularly susceptible are pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Severe reactions can include asthma episodes, fever, shortness of breath, and mold infection in the lungs.
To minimize exposure to ragweed pollen and mold and fungus spores and to improve indoor air quality, DampRid recommends:
- Stay indoors as much as possible, especially in the early morning when pollen is released.
- Monitor pollen counts in your area by visiting the National Allergy Bureau at http://www.aaaai.org/nab.
- After spending time outside, take a shower to remove pollen from your hair and skin.
- Remove shoes and jackets immediately upon entering the house to minimize the spread of pollen.
- Keep windows at home and in the car shut.
- Use air conditioning as long as possible to clean the air.
- Wash sheets, blankets, and comforters weekly in hot water to reduce dust mites.
- Vacuum regularly, using a machine with a good filtration system.
- Eliminate cockroaches, as their waste produces allergens.
- Wash pets weekly to reduce dander.
To further manage indoor moisture and humidity, DampRid recommends:
- Install exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room and any other space water vapor is created.
- Inspect doors, windows and the foundation for water seepage or excessive air infiltration.
- Replace worn caulk and seals.
- Place DampRid moisture absorbers in bathrooms, kitchen and laundry areas, and closets to create fresher, healthier indoor air.
DampRid offers a line of moisture absorber products that create fresher, healthier indoor air, prevent mold and mildew and the resulting allergens, and eliminate musty odors. For more ideas on how to use DampRid in the home, visit http://www.damprid.com.
Source
DampRid
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, allergies are considered the fifth leading chronic disease and are a major cause of work absenteeism, resulting in nearly four million missed or lost workdays each year.
Seasonal allergies can be further aggravated by poor air quality inside the home. Allergy sufferers can begin to take control of their condition by improving the quality of their home environment and create cleaner, fresher air. Moisture control is the key to preventing mold and mildew growth and the resulting allergens from forming. Removing excess moisture also protects against moisture damage to clothing, furniture and valuables and eliminates musty odors.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warns that exposure to mold can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Particularly susceptible are pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Severe reactions can include asthma episodes, fever, shortness of breath, and mold infection in the lungs.
To minimize exposure to ragweed pollen and mold and fungus spores and to improve indoor air quality, DampRid recommends:
- Stay indoors as much as possible, especially in the early morning when pollen is released.
- Monitor pollen counts in your area by visiting the National Allergy Bureau at http://www.aaaai.org/nab.
- After spending time outside, take a shower to remove pollen from your hair and skin.
- Remove shoes and jackets immediately upon entering the house to minimize the spread of pollen.
- Keep windows at home and in the car shut.
- Use air conditioning as long as possible to clean the air.
- Wash sheets, blankets, and comforters weekly in hot water to reduce dust mites.
- Vacuum regularly, using a machine with a good filtration system.
- Eliminate cockroaches, as their waste produces allergens.
- Wash pets weekly to reduce dander.
To further manage indoor moisture and humidity, DampRid recommends:
- Install exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room and any other space water vapor is created.
- Inspect doors, windows and the foundation for water seepage or excessive air infiltration.
- Replace worn caulk and seals.
- Place DampRid moisture absorbers in bathrooms, kitchen and laundry areas, and closets to create fresher, healthier indoor air.
DampRid offers a line of moisture absorber products that create fresher, healthier indoor air, prevent mold and mildew and the resulting allergens, and eliminate musty odors. For more ideas on how to use DampRid in the home, visit http://www.damprid.com.
Source
DampRid
Sep 5, 2009
New Study To Assess Societal Costs Following Revelation That 100 Million Women In The Prime Of Their Lives Have Endometriosis
The World Endometriosis Research Foundation (WERF) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) are proud to announce the first ever prospective study to assess the hidden cost of endometriosis to society and to women with the disease.
13 centres in ten countries kick-off the EndoCost study with a goal to identify areas which can be addressed for improvement and subsequent reduction in cost from a very prevalent - yet largely unknown - disease, which affects women during the prime of their lives.
Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years. An average diagnostic delay of up to 12 years, coupled with "hit and miss" treatments, has put an estimated cost to society in the United States alone at $22 billion a year - higher than the cost of migraine and Crohn's disease. There are no comparable data - yet - in Europe, which WERF and ESHRE now seek to address.
Endometriosis is the biggest cause of infertility and chronic pelvic pain in women. All treatments have side effects and there is no known cure. Yet, there is a lack of government funding given to research into a cure - or even a long term treatment.
28-year old Lisa Gellert has suffered from endometriosis for nine years. "I have seen numerous doctors, and finally had surgery - where none of the disease was removed. Despite having supposedly had 'treatment' I still live in pain and take several days off every month because I am incapacitated", said Gellert.
WERF chief executive, Lone Hummelshoj worries what mis-management such as Gellert's is costing national healthcare systems. But, it is not about healthcare systems alone according to Hummelshoj: "A large proportion of women with endometriosis have to take time off work every month either due to severe symptoms, or because of doctors' appointments and treatment regimes. This has a profound effect on society, but most certainly also on the women themselves, whose personal cost - both financially and emotionally - is substantial. The effect on relationships, not least when fertility becomes an issue, must not be under-estimated either! The EndoCost study will be the first ever to investigate this direct and indirect cost, at a societal and personal level. We hope the results will spur national governments on to take endometriosis seriously and invest in research to prevent the next generation of women having to suffer during the prime of their lives the way this generation has", said Hummelshoj.
Results from the EndoCost study are expected to be published during the second quarter of 2010.
See also: http://www.endometriosisfoundation.org/endocost.php
Source:
Hanna Hanssen
European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology
13 centres in ten countries kick-off the EndoCost study with a goal to identify areas which can be addressed for improvement and subsequent reduction in cost from a very prevalent - yet largely unknown - disease, which affects women during the prime of their lives.
Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years. An average diagnostic delay of up to 12 years, coupled with "hit and miss" treatments, has put an estimated cost to society in the United States alone at $22 billion a year - higher than the cost of migraine and Crohn's disease. There are no comparable data - yet - in Europe, which WERF and ESHRE now seek to address.
Endometriosis is the biggest cause of infertility and chronic pelvic pain in women. All treatments have side effects and there is no known cure. Yet, there is a lack of government funding given to research into a cure - or even a long term treatment.
28-year old Lisa Gellert has suffered from endometriosis for nine years. "I have seen numerous doctors, and finally had surgery - where none of the disease was removed. Despite having supposedly had 'treatment' I still live in pain and take several days off every month because I am incapacitated", said Gellert.
WERF chief executive, Lone Hummelshoj worries what mis-management such as Gellert's is costing national healthcare systems. But, it is not about healthcare systems alone according to Hummelshoj: "A large proportion of women with endometriosis have to take time off work every month either due to severe symptoms, or because of doctors' appointments and treatment regimes. This has a profound effect on society, but most certainly also on the women themselves, whose personal cost - both financially and emotionally - is substantial. The effect on relationships, not least when fertility becomes an issue, must not be under-estimated either! The EndoCost study will be the first ever to investigate this direct and indirect cost, at a societal and personal level. We hope the results will spur national governments on to take endometriosis seriously and invest in research to prevent the next generation of women having to suffer during the prime of their lives the way this generation has", said Hummelshoj.
Results from the EndoCost study are expected to be published during the second quarter of 2010.
See also: http://www.endometriosisfoundation.org/endocost.php
Source:
Hanna Hanssen
European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology
Phase III Trial Of ASA404 In Lung Cancer Completes Patient Enrolment
Antisoma plc (LSE: ASM; USOTC: ATSMY) announces that the ATTRACT-1 phase III trial of ASA404 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has reached its enrolment target of 1,200 patients. The trial is the single pivotal registration study for the drug as a first-line treatment for squamous and non-squamous NSCLC, and is being conducted by Novartis, Antisoma's development and commercialisation partner for ASA404.
Glyn Edwards, Antisoma's CEO, said: "Novartis has done an excellent job in rapidly completing recruitment into this very large trial of ASA404 in lung cancer. We can now be even more confident that the results will be available in time to support potential marketing applications in 2011."
Primo N. Lara, Professor of Medicine at the University of California Davis Cancer Center and U.S. Steering Committee Chair for the ATTRACT-1 study, said: "Lung cancer afflicts an enormous number of patients worldwide and there is a clear need for new and improved treatment options. Phase II trials reported substantial benefits for lung cancer patients receiving ASA404, and I therefore look forward greatly to seeing the results of this large and important phase III trial."
ASA404 is a Tumour-Vascular Disrupting Agent (Tumour-VDA) that selectively disrupts established tumour vasculature, inhibits tumour blood flow, and causes extensive tumour necrosis.
The Trout Group
Except for the historical information presented, certain matters discussed in this announcement are forward looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties may be associated with product discovery and development, including statements regarding the company's clinical development programmes, the expected timing of clinical trials and regulatory filings. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially.
About the ATTRACT-1 study
ATTRACT-1 is a pivotal study designed to support applications to market ASA404 in previously untreated, advanced NSCLC. It is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre phase III trial being conducted across the US, EU, Japan and other territories. ATTRACT-1 opened in April 2008 and has enrolled patients with all histologies, or types, of NSCLC, including squamous and non-squamous cancers. Patients have been randomised 1:1 to receive either ASA404 plus chemotherapy (carboplatin/paclitaxel) or a placebo plus chemotherapy (carboplatin/paclitaxel) as a control.
The primary endpoint of ATTRACT-1 is overall survival. Key secondary endpoints are survival in the squamous and non-squamous patient subgroups. An interim look is expected to be triggered before the end of 2009. Following collation and processing of data, the interim look will take place in early 2010. The outcome will be announced immediately. The most likely outcome is that the study will continue to completion. No data will be released unless the look indicates that the trial should stop because of clear futility or early evidence of overwhelming efficacy. Full and final data are expected to be available in late 2010 or early 2011, in time to support potential applications to market the drug in 2011.
In addition to the ATTRACT-1 trial in previously untreated NSCLC patients, Novartis is conducting a separate pivotal study, ATTRACT-2, to evaluate ASA404 in NSCLC patients who have received one previous treatment.
About non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Lung cancer is the biggest cause of cancer death for both men and women worldwide, with 1.2 million new cases per year and around 920,000 deaths. Around 85-90% of all lung cancer cases are NSCLC.
About ASA404
ASA404 (vadimezan, formerly known as DMXAA and AS1404) is a small-molecule Tumour-Vascular Disrupting Agent (Tumour-VDA) which targets the blood vessels that nourish tumours. The drug was discovered by Professors Bruce Baguley and William Denny and their teams at the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of Auckland, New Zealand. It was in-licensed by Antisoma from Cancer Research Ventures Limited (now Cancer Research Technology), the development and commercialisation company of the Cancer Research Campaign (now Cancer Research UK), in 2001. Worldwide rights to the drug were licensed to Novartis AG in April 2007; Antisoma has an option to co-sell ASA404 with Novartis in the United States. Novartis is conducting phase III studies of ASA404 in NSCLC, and also plans to investigate the drug's potential as a treatment for metastatic breast cancer.
A randomised phase II trial in patients receiving first-line treatment for NSCLC showed that addition of ASA404 to carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy improved survival by 5 months. A second, single-arm, phase II trial also reported positive results with ASA404 in the same patient group.
Source
Antisoma plc
Glyn Edwards, Antisoma's CEO, said: "Novartis has done an excellent job in rapidly completing recruitment into this very large trial of ASA404 in lung cancer. We can now be even more confident that the results will be available in time to support potential marketing applications in 2011."
Primo N. Lara, Professor of Medicine at the University of California Davis Cancer Center and U.S. Steering Committee Chair for the ATTRACT-1 study, said: "Lung cancer afflicts an enormous number of patients worldwide and there is a clear need for new and improved treatment options. Phase II trials reported substantial benefits for lung cancer patients receiving ASA404, and I therefore look forward greatly to seeing the results of this large and important phase III trial."
ASA404 is a Tumour-Vascular Disrupting Agent (Tumour-VDA) that selectively disrupts established tumour vasculature, inhibits tumour blood flow, and causes extensive tumour necrosis.
The Trout Group
Except for the historical information presented, certain matters discussed in this announcement are forward looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties may be associated with product discovery and development, including statements regarding the company's clinical development programmes, the expected timing of clinical trials and regulatory filings. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially.
About the ATTRACT-1 study
ATTRACT-1 is a pivotal study designed to support applications to market ASA404 in previously untreated, advanced NSCLC. It is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre phase III trial being conducted across the US, EU, Japan and other territories. ATTRACT-1 opened in April 2008 and has enrolled patients with all histologies, or types, of NSCLC, including squamous and non-squamous cancers. Patients have been randomised 1:1 to receive either ASA404 plus chemotherapy (carboplatin/paclitaxel) or a placebo plus chemotherapy (carboplatin/paclitaxel) as a control.
The primary endpoint of ATTRACT-1 is overall survival. Key secondary endpoints are survival in the squamous and non-squamous patient subgroups. An interim look is expected to be triggered before the end of 2009. Following collation and processing of data, the interim look will take place in early 2010. The outcome will be announced immediately. The most likely outcome is that the study will continue to completion. No data will be released unless the look indicates that the trial should stop because of clear futility or early evidence of overwhelming efficacy. Full and final data are expected to be available in late 2010 or early 2011, in time to support potential applications to market the drug in 2011.
In addition to the ATTRACT-1 trial in previously untreated NSCLC patients, Novartis is conducting a separate pivotal study, ATTRACT-2, to evaluate ASA404 in NSCLC patients who have received one previous treatment.
About non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Lung cancer is the biggest cause of cancer death for both men and women worldwide, with 1.2 million new cases per year and around 920,000 deaths. Around 85-90% of all lung cancer cases are NSCLC.
About ASA404
ASA404 (vadimezan, formerly known as DMXAA and AS1404) is a small-molecule Tumour-Vascular Disrupting Agent (Tumour-VDA) which targets the blood vessels that nourish tumours. The drug was discovered by Professors Bruce Baguley and William Denny and their teams at the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of Auckland, New Zealand. It was in-licensed by Antisoma from Cancer Research Ventures Limited (now Cancer Research Technology), the development and commercialisation company of the Cancer Research Campaign (now Cancer Research UK), in 2001. Worldwide rights to the drug were licensed to Novartis AG in April 2007; Antisoma has an option to co-sell ASA404 with Novartis in the United States. Novartis is conducting phase III studies of ASA404 in NSCLC, and also plans to investigate the drug's potential as a treatment for metastatic breast cancer.
A randomised phase II trial in patients receiving first-line treatment for NSCLC showed that addition of ASA404 to carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy improved survival by 5 months. A second, single-arm, phase II trial also reported positive results with ASA404 in the same patient group.
Source
Antisoma plc
Dealing With High-blood Pressure? Eat More Melons
Summer is the time to chill out with cool summer fruits.
So, why not lower your blood pressure at the same time?
Nutrition experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center say there's no better way to lower your blood pressure than by indulging in some of the season's potassium-rich fruit and vegetables.
"Melons like cantaloupe and watermelon are particularly high in potassium," says Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "One fourth a cantaloupe contains 800 to 900 milligrams of potassium, roughly 20 percent of the recommended daily value."
Two cups of watermelon contains nearly 10 percent of the daily recommended value.
Ms. Sandon said that dried apricots, avocados, figs, kiwi, oranges, raisins, dates, beans, potatoes, tomatoes and even grapefruit are other good sources of potassium.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that most adults get 4,044 milligrams of potassium from food and beverages each day.
Source: UT Southwestern Medical Center
So, why not lower your blood pressure at the same time?
Nutrition experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center say there's no better way to lower your blood pressure than by indulging in some of the season's potassium-rich fruit and vegetables.
"Melons like cantaloupe and watermelon are particularly high in potassium," says Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "One fourth a cantaloupe contains 800 to 900 milligrams of potassium, roughly 20 percent of the recommended daily value."
Two cups of watermelon contains nearly 10 percent of the daily recommended value.
Ms. Sandon said that dried apricots, avocados, figs, kiwi, oranges, raisins, dates, beans, potatoes, tomatoes and even grapefruit are other good sources of potassium.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that most adults get 4,044 milligrams of potassium from food and beverages each day.
Source: UT Southwestern Medical Center
Natural Compounds, Chemotherapeutic Drugs May Become Partners In Cancer Therapy
Research in the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University suggests that some natural food compounds, which previously have been studied for their ability to prevent cancer, may be able to play a more significant role in treating it - working side-by-side with the conventional drugs that are now used in chemotherapy.
A new study just published in the International Journal of Cancer examined the activity of chlorophyllin and found that, on a dose-by-dose basis, it was 10 times more potent at causing death of colon cancer cells than hydroxyurea, a chemotherapeutic drug commonly used in cancer treatment.
Beyond that, chlorophyllin kills cancer cells by blocking the same phase of cellular division that hydroxyurea does, but by a different mechanism. This suggests that it - and possibly other "cocktails" of natural products - might be developed to have a synergistic effect with conventional cancer drugs, helping them to work better or require less toxic dosages, researchers said.
"We conclude that chlorophyllin has the potential to be effective in the clinical setting, when used alone or in combination with currently available cancer therapeutic agents," the researchers wrote in their study.
The concept of combining conventional or new cancer drugs with natural compounds that have been shown to have anti-cancer properties is very promising, said Rod Dashwood, professor and director of the Cancer Chemoprotection Program in the Linus Pauling Institute.
"Most chemotherapeutic approaches to cancer try to target cancer cells specifically and do something that slows or stops their cell growth process," Dashwood said. "We're now identifying such mechanisms of action for natural compounds, including dietary agents. With further research we may be able to make the two approaches work together to enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies."
Chlorophyllin is a water-soluble derivative of chlorophyll - the green pigment found in most plants and many food products that makes possible the process of photosynthesis and plant growth from the sun's energy. Chlorophyllin is inexpensive, and animal studies plus human clinical data suggest that it can be ingested at relatively high levels without toxicity.
In the new study, researchers found that pharmacologic doses of chlorophyllin caused colon cancer cells to spend more time than normal in their "synthesis phase" in which DNA is duplicated. Timing is critical to the various phases of cell growth, researchers said, and this disruption started a process that ultimately led to cell death, the study found.
In particular, the presence of high levels of chlorophyllin caused a major reduction in the level of ribonucleotide reductase, an enzyme critical to DNA synthesis, researchers found. This is also the mechanism of action of hydroxyurea, one drug already being used for cancer chemotherapy.
"In cancer research right now there's interest in approaches that can reduce ribonucleotide reductase," Dashwood said. "At the doses used in our experiments, chlorophyllin almost completely stops the activity of this enzyme."
Further research is needed both in laboratory and animal studies, with combinations of chlorophyllin and existing cancer drugs, before it would be appropriate for human trials, Dashwood said. Chlorophyllin, in general, is poorly absorbed from the human gastrointestinal tract, so it's unclear what levels might be needed for therapeutic purposes or how well they would work.
Other dietary agents also might have similar potential. Work just published by LPI researchers in the journals Carcinogenesis and Cancer Prevention Research explored the role of organic selenium compounds in killing human prostate and colon cancer cells. Colorectal and prostate cancers are consistently among the leading causes of cancer mortality in the United States, and will account respectively for 18 percent and 9 percent of all cancer deaths in 2009, according to estimates from the American Cancer Society.
In the recent studies, a form of organic selenium found naturally in garlic and Brazil nuts was converted in cancer cells to metabolites that acted as "HDAC inhibitors" - a promising field of research in which silenced tumor suppressor genes are re-activated, triggering cancer cell death.
"Whether it's HDAC inhibition leading to one manner of cancer cell growth arrest, or loss of ribonucleotide reductase activity leading to another, as seen with chlorophyllin, there's significant promise in the use of natural products for combined cancer therapies," Dashwood said. "These are areas that merit continued research."
These studies were supported by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Other collaborators included researchers from the New York Medical College and the Penn State College of Medicine.
Source:
Rod Dashwood
Oregon State University
A new study just published in the International Journal of Cancer examined the activity of chlorophyllin and found that, on a dose-by-dose basis, it was 10 times more potent at causing death of colon cancer cells than hydroxyurea, a chemotherapeutic drug commonly used in cancer treatment.
Beyond that, chlorophyllin kills cancer cells by blocking the same phase of cellular division that hydroxyurea does, but by a different mechanism. This suggests that it - and possibly other "cocktails" of natural products - might be developed to have a synergistic effect with conventional cancer drugs, helping them to work better or require less toxic dosages, researchers said.
"We conclude that chlorophyllin has the potential to be effective in the clinical setting, when used alone or in combination with currently available cancer therapeutic agents," the researchers wrote in their study.
The concept of combining conventional or new cancer drugs with natural compounds that have been shown to have anti-cancer properties is very promising, said Rod Dashwood, professor and director of the Cancer Chemoprotection Program in the Linus Pauling Institute.
"Most chemotherapeutic approaches to cancer try to target cancer cells specifically and do something that slows or stops their cell growth process," Dashwood said. "We're now identifying such mechanisms of action for natural compounds, including dietary agents. With further research we may be able to make the two approaches work together to enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies."
Chlorophyllin is a water-soluble derivative of chlorophyll - the green pigment found in most plants and many food products that makes possible the process of photosynthesis and plant growth from the sun's energy. Chlorophyllin is inexpensive, and animal studies plus human clinical data suggest that it can be ingested at relatively high levels without toxicity.
In the new study, researchers found that pharmacologic doses of chlorophyllin caused colon cancer cells to spend more time than normal in their "synthesis phase" in which DNA is duplicated. Timing is critical to the various phases of cell growth, researchers said, and this disruption started a process that ultimately led to cell death, the study found.
In particular, the presence of high levels of chlorophyllin caused a major reduction in the level of ribonucleotide reductase, an enzyme critical to DNA synthesis, researchers found. This is also the mechanism of action of hydroxyurea, one drug already being used for cancer chemotherapy.
"In cancer research right now there's interest in approaches that can reduce ribonucleotide reductase," Dashwood said. "At the doses used in our experiments, chlorophyllin almost completely stops the activity of this enzyme."
Further research is needed both in laboratory and animal studies, with combinations of chlorophyllin and existing cancer drugs, before it would be appropriate for human trials, Dashwood said. Chlorophyllin, in general, is poorly absorbed from the human gastrointestinal tract, so it's unclear what levels might be needed for therapeutic purposes or how well they would work.
Other dietary agents also might have similar potential. Work just published by LPI researchers in the journals Carcinogenesis and Cancer Prevention Research explored the role of organic selenium compounds in killing human prostate and colon cancer cells. Colorectal and prostate cancers are consistently among the leading causes of cancer mortality in the United States, and will account respectively for 18 percent and 9 percent of all cancer deaths in 2009, according to estimates from the American Cancer Society.
In the recent studies, a form of organic selenium found naturally in garlic and Brazil nuts was converted in cancer cells to metabolites that acted as "HDAC inhibitors" - a promising field of research in which silenced tumor suppressor genes are re-activated, triggering cancer cell death.
"Whether it's HDAC inhibition leading to one manner of cancer cell growth arrest, or loss of ribonucleotide reductase activity leading to another, as seen with chlorophyllin, there's significant promise in the use of natural products for combined cancer therapies," Dashwood said. "These are areas that merit continued research."
These studies were supported by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Other collaborators included researchers from the New York Medical College and the Penn State College of Medicine.
Source:
Rod Dashwood
Oregon State University
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