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Aromasin shown to lower breast cancer risk

By UDS Staff | June 25, 2011

Breast Cancer is no longer inevitable for women at high risk for developing breast cancer. The fresh arrival of Aromasin in the medical hemisphere has brought a sigh of relief for women who were under the dark shadow of the disease and its ailments. The recurrences of Breast Cancer can be reduced to the greatest possible extent with the help of Exemestane, also known as Aromasin.

Aromasin blocks the production of estrogen that’s made outside of the ovaries. Aromasin reduces the risk of recurrence in certain postmenopausal women who have already been through a bout of breast cancer. A new study also suggests that it can also be used to prevent malignancies in healthy women who may have an elevated risk because of age, family history and abnormal breast biopsy results. Also, Tamoxifen and Raloxifene are the other two drugs which have been already approved to prevent breast cancer, but both these drugs are rarely used to reduce the recurrences of Breast cancer. This is partly because they can have serious side effects like blood clots, endometrial cancers, hot flashes, leg cramps and joint pain. Many researchers have confirmed that Aromasin does not have those side effects and might be more acceptable.

A study was conducted in 2004 where the researchers enrolled 4560 postmenopausal women. All of them were above the age of 60 or 35 with a Gail risk score of 1.66% or more than that. The Gail risk basically measures the five-year risk of developing breast cancer based on factors like family history, age, race, and childbearing history. Half of the participants in the study were above 60 years of age. Thereafter the women were randomly assigned to consume 25 milligrams of Aromasin daily or a placebo pill. Both the participants and the doctors were unaware about who was getting the treatment or a placebo. The researchers gave the women annual checkups including a mammogram.

Three years later, 11 invasive breast cancers in the Aromasin group and 32 invasive breast cancers in the placebo group was diagnosed. This result also confirmed the fact that 0.55% of women in the placebo group and 0.19% women in the Aromasin group were diagnosed with breast cancer each year during the study. Researchers were confident about the fact that 94 women would need to take the drug for three years to prevent one case of cancer. That number dropped to just 26 women to prevent one diagnosis of breast cancer after five years! Majority of the cancer cases found in both the groups were estrogen receptor positive which responds well to this treatment.

The study has been already published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It was presented at the 2011 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists in Chicago. Study researcher Rowan T. Chlebowski, MD, PhD, chief of medical oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles reiterated that Aromasin is a revolutionary drug and has the potential to change the entire medical hemisphere.

Study finds direct relation between socio-economic status and lapse in drug intake

By UDS Staff | June 25, 2011

Socio-economic status plays a very vital role when it comes to adherence to treatment by patients of epilepsy. The finding has emerged in a study carried out and published in the Journal of American Medical Association. According the study, it has been shown how epileptic patients of lower economic status display a lack of interest in consuming the prescribed drug.

For the study, the researchers carried out tests on 124 children between the ages of 2-12 and as per the results of the analysis, it has emerged that around 60% of the kids do not take the medicine as it should be taken – regularly. In other words, it also translates into three kids for every five suffering from epilepsy not taking the medicines.

Categorically speaking, the results appear to be like this:
• 58% displayed a constant lack of intake of the medicines
• 13% displayed a serious and constant lack of intake during the early stages
• 7% displayed a mediocre lack of intake of the medicines
• 13% displayed a mediocre lack of intake of medicines
• 26% displayed a slight interest in the consumption of the medicines
• 42% displayed a thorough interest in the consumption of the prescribed medicines

The most important factor that was taken into account while conducting this analysis was the economic status of the patient. However, it is difficult to ascertain whether the families of the patients who come from a lower economic background find it expensive to invest in these drugs or whether they are just forgetful about the timing of the dosage.

Epilepsy affects about 3, 25,000 kids under the age of 15 in the US. As a disease, epilepsy needs constant drug intake to reduce the amount of seizures and spasms caused. In such a scenario, the trend of lapse in drug intake as observed among the lower economic group can prove to be fatal in the long run. Needless to say, stronger steps need to be taken on part of the government in order to ensure that children from the lower economic classes do not lose out on the joys of life because of the financial conditions of their families.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

American myths regarding red wine and sea-salt

By UDS Staff | May 11, 2011

Most Americans seem to be confused regarding the pros and cons of certain food items and beverages, a recent survey points out. The survey conducted by the American Heart Association (AHA) points out that most Americans have the misconception that sea salt is low on sodium as compared to table salt. Also, it was found that a majority of people think red wine is beneficial for heart health—-a fact yet to be proven conclusively though certain medical evidences indicate so. What is more concerning is that many among these people are unaware of the daily limits recommended by the AHA.

AHA conducted the poll in order to measure the awareness among people about risk factors of high blood pressure. 1,000 Americans were quizzed for the survey and it was found that 76% were certain that red wine is good for the heart. Though speculations are still on regarding the beneficial effects of moderate wine drinking, excessive drinking is unanimously considered to be harmful. However, only 30% were aware that there is a daily limit imposed by the AHA. The AHA says that men should restrict alcohol (wine, beer and other spirits) intake to two drinks a day while women should restrict it to one drink a day. In terms of wine this restriction comes down to 8 ounces or 250 ml (approx.) per day for men and 4 ounces or 125 ml per day for women.

Also revealed from the survey was the false notion harbored by most people regarding sea salt. 61% of the participants of the survey incorrectly agreed with the fact that sea-salt is a better and low-sodium alternative to the regular table salt. But in reality sea-salt contains 40% of sodium by weight—almost the same as in table salt. Moreover, 46% percent believe that table salt is the primary source of sodium in their diet whereas processed foods, condiments and canned foods provide 75% of sodium in an American diet. A meager 24% were aware of the daily limit of 1,500 milligrams of sodium consumption recommended by the AHA. Sodium is known to increase blood pressure and high-sodium diets are known to put people at higher risks of developing strokes or heart diseases.

Dr. Gerald Fletcher, professor of medicine (cardiovascular diseases), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, in Jacksonville, Florida and also spokesperson of AHA, acknowledged that there is, indeed, a problem regarding food awareness. “This survey shows that we need to do a better job of educating people about the heart-health risks of overconsumption of wine, especially its possible role in increasing blood pressure,” he said. To combat the problem, Dr. Fletcher urges consumers to go through the list of ingredients and nutrition facts given on the packages of most processed food and beverages.

However, a positive side was also reflected through the survey. It was found that 59% of the respondents were aware of their blood pressure number. The percentage was even higher (80%) among people who had high blood pressure. Also, 95% were aware that it is possible to lower the risk of high blood pressure.

Two apples a day to keep heart diseases away

By UDS Staff | May 5, 2011

We have grown up listening to the phrase “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. This may indeed be true if a recent study is anything to go by. According to a research carried out by the State University of Florida, it has been proven that the fruit helps to bring down the level of cholesterol in a person’s body.

There are two types of cholesterol in the body – the HDL (High Density Lipoproteins) and the LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins). Contrary to what laymen might assume, it is the HDL which is regarded as the good cholesterol and the LDL as the bad cholesterol.

The main responsibility of HDL is to make sure that the cholesterol in the blood is carried back to the liver so that it can be excreted out of the body. Hence an increase in the HDL levels indicates that the chances of developing cardiac problems become minimal. On the contrary, increased LDL levels indicate that the person stands a good chance of getting heart attacks, strokes and other related problems. As per the results of the study conducted, continuous eating of apples reduces the LDL levels and thus lowers the chances of a person suffering from stroke or heart attacks in the near future.

A total of 160 women between the age group of 45 and 66 participated in the study. These women were given the option of choosing between a dry prune and a dry apple as daily servings. Following the start of the study, blood tests were conducted on the women after three months, six months and twelve months in order to determine changes in levels of markers of heart health. The tests were carried out cumulatively so that a comparative analysis could be charted. After a year, the LDL levels in the women who consumed the apples went down by 23% on an average. Total cholesterol levels went down by 14%. Further levels of other markers such as lipid hydroperoxide (a biochemical which facilitates heart-clogging plaque formation) and C-reactive protein (an inflammation marker) were also reduced by one-third. Moreover, the women who were having apples on a daily basis lost 3 pounds on an average in one year.

Prune consumption, did not however bring about a significant decrease in the cholesterol levels. The women who consumed the prunes did witness a drop in the other marker levels, but certainly not to the extent as observed in the women who ate apples.

Experts say that the beneficial effects of apples are due to the presence of a soluble fiber called pectin that inhibits absorption of cholesterol in the digestive system. Pectin also makes the body use up cholesterol instead of storing it. Further the skin of the apple contains antioxidants called polyphenols. These help in the prevention of cellular damage caused by free radicals. For convenience of the study dried apples were used. However, Bahram H. Arjmandi, study researcher and Margaret A. Sitton Professor and Chair, Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences at The Florida State University, said that fresh apples were likely to provide better results. He, further, suggests that ideally one should eat two apples a day to reap the benefits.

Study shows Amgen’s Prolia to significantly increase bone mineral density

By UDS Staff | April 2, 2011

Amgen Inc. the biotechnology medicines company, has released a report which shows that postmenopausal women who have been given the drug Prolia (denosumab) for five years showed a significant increase in their bone mineral density (BMD).

The study named FREEDOM (Fracture REduction Evaluation of Denosumab in Osteoporosis every six Months) was initially based on the data obtained from 7,800 postmenopausal women over three years. It then asked 2,343 women from the initial 7,800 to continue taking Prolia and another 2,207 women who were taking Placebo for three years were asked to switch to Prolia. Thus the extension study focused on the progress in treatment of 4,550 women for 5 years.

At the end of the study it was seen that the drug accounted for 13.7 percent of BMD gains for lumbar spine and 7 percent BMD gains for total hip. Additionally, year 4 and 5 saw lumbar spine BMD gains of 1.9 percent and 1.7 percent respectively and total hip BMD gains of 0.7 and 0.6 percent respectively. For women who were asked to switch to Prolia from Placebo significant BMD gains—7.9 percent in lumbar spine BMD and 4.1 percent in total hip BMD—were recorded in the initial two years of treatment with Prolia. Amgen further claims that continued usage of the drug reduced the number of new instances of osteoporotic fractures.

However, there were certain adverse effects reported as well. 19 percent of the 4,550 women followed by the extended study reported serious side effects. Also, the rates of serious side effects were slightly greater among women who were asked to continue taking Prolia than women who switched from Placebo (83.4 percent vs. 82.8 percent). Osteonecrosis of the jaw was reported in two women from the group that switched from Placebo. However, the condition healed without further deterioration.

Prolia, manufactured by Amgen, belongs to a new class of medicines—in fact it is the first in the class. It is a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets the RANK ligand and thereby reduces the actions of osteoclasts, the bone-destroying cells. Prolia is administered as an in injection every six months and has been approved in both UK and USA for treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, especially those with a higher risk of fracture. Prolia was launched last year in June and recorded sales worth $33 million in 2010.

Prolia also proved to be the preferred choice among women as compared to alendronate, an oral biphosphonate drug from Merck & Co. The Denosumab Adherence Preference and Satisfaction (DAPS) study showed that around 90 percent of women said that they would choose Prolia over Alendronate. Prof. Nick Freemantle of University of Birmingham, UK found this result to be very significant as adherence to treatment is an important aspect of osteoporosis treatment in postmenopausal women.