Ms Aine Brady T.D. Minister for Older People and Health Promotion, announced the publication of the 2008 Annual Report from the Alcohol Marketing Communications Monitoring Body (AMCMB). The AMCMB was established to monitor the level of adherence by advertisers and media owners to the Codes of Practice on Alcohol Marketing, Communications and Sponsorship. The AMCMB has concluded that there continues to be overall compliance with the Codes.
The Codes of Practice, which have been agreed between the Department of Health and Children and the Irish alcohol industry and the Irish advertising industry, are in place to limit the exposure of children and young people to alcohol advertising in Ireland. These Codes are intended to be complementary to existing statutory obligations and other voluntary codes that exist such as the codes of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland.
"The Codes on Advertising and Sponsorship, which are in place in Ireland, are among the strongest voluntary Codes in place in the European Union. However, there is no reason to be complacent and we will continue to monitor adherence to the Codes and to identify what further measures that might be necessary to reduce exposure of children and young people to alcohol advertising." The Minister said
Read the Report
Source
Department of Health and Children, Ireland
вторник, 21 июня 2011 г.
понедельник, 20 июня 2011 г.
Denial In Drug Addiction May Be Explained By 'Insight' Deficit
Drug abusers are often characterized as being in "denial" - not recognizing the severity of their disorder. Although "denial" is often considered to be a form of deception, emerging research suggests that it may be due to a specific brain dysfunction similar to that observed in other neuropsychiatric illnesses.
Scientists from a variety of fields presented relevant research during a symposium on "Impaired Insight into Illness in Drug Addiction" at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C., November 16, 2008, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m., Washington Convention Center, Ballroom B. Rita Z. Goldstein, a psychologist who leads the neuropsychoimaging group at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, is chair of this symposium; Steve Grant of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will co-chair it.
"The more we understand about the brain mechanisms affected by drugs of abuse and that underlie addiction, the better equipped we will be to address its complex and difficult-to-treat symptoms, including relapse triggered by exposure to cues outside of conscious awareness, and altered perceptions of internal responses and cognitive performance," said Nora D. Volkow, Director of NIDA, who will serve as a discussant at the symposium. "This knowledge will lead to the development of more responsive, integrated treatments."
Brookhaven's Goldstein explains the idea of impaired insight and how it might relate to drug addiction: "Patients suffering from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia often have compromised awareness of their own symptoms and the severity of their disorder. This compromise can exacerbate symptoms and reduce responsiveness to or compliance with treatment," she said. This "insight deficit" appears to originate from impairments in many of the same brain regions that underlie addiction symptoms - such as continued drug use despite catastrophic consequences, even when the drug is no longer pleasurable.
"It is therefore possible that these core clinical addiction symptoms - craving and compulsion and the chronic relapsing nature of addiction - may be a consequence of compromised insight," Goldstein said. Such impaired insight might help explain why drug-addicted patients often have a hard time recognizing, accepting, and/or acknowledging their own signs and symptoms of addiction, as well as the need for treatment. It could also help explain these patients' failure to comply fully with treatment regimens - and their tendency to relapse.
"Deficits in insight and interoception [sensitivity to the body's internal signals] and emotional awareness have largely been ignored in the field of addiction, despite the fact that this disorder is finally recognized as a disease of the brain, amenable to intervention and treatment," Goldstein said. "My hope is that this symposium will help bridge this gap and contribute to the design of new diagnostic tools and treatment approaches, pointing us toward more effective intervention strategies to improve prognosis in this illness."
Symposium speakers were:
A. D. (Bud) Craig, Atkinson Research Laboratory, Barrow Neurological Institute, will discuss the role of the specific brain regions in insight and interoception in healthy states and in psychopathology.
Antoine Bechara, University of Southern California, will discuss the brain regions involved in impaired awareness of nicotine craving and concern about the potential long-term consequences in cigarette smoking.
Hugh Garavan, School of Psychology & Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, will discuss the role of specific brain regions in blunted awareness to errors and compromised behavioral and situational monitoring in cocaine addiction, compromises that could precipitate excessive, unintended use or relapse.
Anna Rose Childress, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, will discuss how subcortical brain regions respond to drug-related stimuli, even without conscious awareness, and how these brain responses can predict emotional reactions and behavior in drug addiction.
Nora D. Volkow, Director of NIDA, will summarize and draw connections between these research areas.
The Society for Neuroscience will highlight this symposium and other addiction talks at a press conference titled "Why Can't I Forget My Last Fix?" on Monday, November 17, 2008, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. at the Washington Convention Center.
Rita Goldstein's work at Brookhaven Lab is funded by the DOE's Office of Science and by NIDA.
Source: Karen McNulty Walsh
DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory
Scientists from a variety of fields presented relevant research during a symposium on "Impaired Insight into Illness in Drug Addiction" at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C., November 16, 2008, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m., Washington Convention Center, Ballroom B. Rita Z. Goldstein, a psychologist who leads the neuropsychoimaging group at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, is chair of this symposium; Steve Grant of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will co-chair it.
"The more we understand about the brain mechanisms affected by drugs of abuse and that underlie addiction, the better equipped we will be to address its complex and difficult-to-treat symptoms, including relapse triggered by exposure to cues outside of conscious awareness, and altered perceptions of internal responses and cognitive performance," said Nora D. Volkow, Director of NIDA, who will serve as a discussant at the symposium. "This knowledge will lead to the development of more responsive, integrated treatments."
Brookhaven's Goldstein explains the idea of impaired insight and how it might relate to drug addiction: "Patients suffering from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia often have compromised awareness of their own symptoms and the severity of their disorder. This compromise can exacerbate symptoms and reduce responsiveness to or compliance with treatment," she said. This "insight deficit" appears to originate from impairments in many of the same brain regions that underlie addiction symptoms - such as continued drug use despite catastrophic consequences, even when the drug is no longer pleasurable.
"It is therefore possible that these core clinical addiction symptoms - craving and compulsion and the chronic relapsing nature of addiction - may be a consequence of compromised insight," Goldstein said. Such impaired insight might help explain why drug-addicted patients often have a hard time recognizing, accepting, and/or acknowledging their own signs and symptoms of addiction, as well as the need for treatment. It could also help explain these patients' failure to comply fully with treatment regimens - and their tendency to relapse.
"Deficits in insight and interoception [sensitivity to the body's internal signals] and emotional awareness have largely been ignored in the field of addiction, despite the fact that this disorder is finally recognized as a disease of the brain, amenable to intervention and treatment," Goldstein said. "My hope is that this symposium will help bridge this gap and contribute to the design of new diagnostic tools and treatment approaches, pointing us toward more effective intervention strategies to improve prognosis in this illness."
Symposium speakers were:
A. D. (Bud) Craig, Atkinson Research Laboratory, Barrow Neurological Institute, will discuss the role of the specific brain regions in insight and interoception in healthy states and in psychopathology.
Antoine Bechara, University of Southern California, will discuss the brain regions involved in impaired awareness of nicotine craving and concern about the potential long-term consequences in cigarette smoking.
Hugh Garavan, School of Psychology & Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, will discuss the role of specific brain regions in blunted awareness to errors and compromised behavioral and situational monitoring in cocaine addiction, compromises that could precipitate excessive, unintended use or relapse.
Anna Rose Childress, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, will discuss how subcortical brain regions respond to drug-related stimuli, even without conscious awareness, and how these brain responses can predict emotional reactions and behavior in drug addiction.
Nora D. Volkow, Director of NIDA, will summarize and draw connections between these research areas.
The Society for Neuroscience will highlight this symposium and other addiction talks at a press conference titled "Why Can't I Forget My Last Fix?" on Monday, November 17, 2008, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. at the Washington Convention Center.
Rita Goldstein's work at Brookhaven Lab is funded by the DOE's Office of Science and by NIDA.
Source: Karen McNulty Walsh
DOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory
воскресенье, 19 июня 2011 г.
Texas Officials Studying Needle-Exchange Program; District Attorney Says People Distributing Needles Do Not Have Immunity
Health officials in Bexar County, Texas, are considering if they should launch the state's first needle-exchange program in an effort to reduce the spread of HIV and other bloodborne diseases, but Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed has said that she will not hesitate to prosecute anyone who distributes needles before the program is approved, the Los Angeles Times reports (Bustillo, Los Angeles Times, 1/28).
The Bexar County Commissioners Court in August 2007 unanimously voted to move forward with a pilot initiative to establish the program. The court voted to approve spending $60,000 for a staff position and planning costs for the program. The program likely will cost more when it begins operations, and organizers plan to seek funding from private groups to offset costs.
The Texas House in May 2007 voted 71-60 to approve a provision in a Medicaid bill (SB 10) that would establish the state's first needle-exchange program in Bexar County, which includes San Antonio. Rep. Ruth McClendon (D), who sponsored the provision, initially tried to add an amendment that would have created a statewide program. However, the program was limited to the San Antonio area after the broader program failed to gain support in the House. Following the vote from the County Commissioner's Court, Reed recently said that the law authorizing the exchange program is faulty (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/20/07). The Texas attorney general is reviewing the situation, according to the Times.
Texas is the only state nationwide that does not have a needle-exchange program, the Times reports. Reed, who is opposed to the initiative, said that people who distribute needles before the program is approved do not have "any kind of criminal immunity." San Antonio police earlier this month arrested three individuals from the Bexar Area Harm Reduction Coalition for distributing needles to injection drug users and commercial sex workers, the Times reports (Los Angeles Times, 1/28).
The Bexar County Commissioners Court in August 2007 unanimously voted to move forward with a pilot initiative to establish the program. The court voted to approve spending $60,000 for a staff position and planning costs for the program. The program likely will cost more when it begins operations, and organizers plan to seek funding from private groups to offset costs.
The Texas House in May 2007 voted 71-60 to approve a provision in a Medicaid bill (SB 10) that would establish the state's first needle-exchange program in Bexar County, which includes San Antonio. Rep. Ruth McClendon (D), who sponsored the provision, initially tried to add an amendment that would have created a statewide program. However, the program was limited to the San Antonio area after the broader program failed to gain support in the House. Following the vote from the County Commissioner's Court, Reed recently said that the law authorizing the exchange program is faulty (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/20/07). The Texas attorney general is reviewing the situation, according to the Times.
Texas is the only state nationwide that does not have a needle-exchange program, the Times reports. Reed, who is opposed to the initiative, said that people who distribute needles before the program is approved do not have "any kind of criminal immunity." San Antonio police earlier this month arrested three individuals from the Bexar Area Harm Reduction Coalition for distributing needles to injection drug users and commercial sex workers, the Times reports (Los Angeles Times, 1/28).
Related Editorial
The recent arrests make a "mockery of clear thinking in this state when it comes to containing infectious disease among" IDUs, a Houston Chronicle editorial says, adding that Reed is doing "her best to thwart" the initiative. The Texas Legislature should "revisit this issue in the next legislative session," the Chronicle says. Texas "needs a fully funded, statewide needle-exchange program run by local public health officials," the editorial says, adding that the state should "protec[t]" people who provide clean needles from "overly aggressive prosecutors" (Houston Chronicle, 1/28).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
суббота, 18 июня 2011 г.
Alcohol Activates Cellular Changes That Make Tumor Cells Spread
Alcohol consumption has long been linked to cancer and its spread, but the underlying mechanism has never been clear.
Now, researchers at Rush University Medical Center have identified a cellular pathway that may explain the link.
In a study published in the current issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, the researchers found that alcohol stimulates what is called the epithelial to mesenchymal transition, in which run-of-the-mill cancer cells morph into a more aggressive form and begin to spread throughout the body.
"Our data are the first to show that alcohol turns on certain signals inside a cell that are involved in this critical transition," said Christopher Forsyth, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and biochemistry at Rush University Medical Center and lead author of the study.
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is a hot area of research right now, implicated in the process whereby cancer cells become metastatic. A large body of laboratory and clinical research suggests that it plays a key role in making cancer cells aggressive.
"Cancer cells become dangerous when they metastasize," Forsyth said. "Surgery can remove a tumor, but aggressive tumor cells invade tissues throughout the body and take over. If we can thwart this transition, we can limit cancer's toll."
The researchers treated colon and breast cancer cell lines with alcohol and then looked for the biochemical hallmarks of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, including evidence of a transcription factor called Snail and of the receptor for epidermal growth factor. Snail controls the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; when overexpressed in mice, it induces the formation of multiple tumors. Epidermal growth factor is required by many cancer cells. "They need lots of it," Forsyth said. "They are addicted to it."
Laboratory tests showed that alcohol activated both these and other biochemicals characteristic of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Tests also demonstrated that the alcohol-treated cells had lost their tight junctions with adjacent cells, a preparation for migrating, as metastatic cells do.
In addition, Forsyth and his colleagues found that the same roster of biomarkers was activated in normal intestinal cells treated with alcohol, suggesting that alcohol not only worsens the profile of existing cancer cells but also may initiate cancer by stimulating the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
Other researchers at Rush involved in the study were Yueming Tang, PhD, Maliha Shaikh, MS, Dr. Lijuan Zhang and Dr. Ali Keshavarzian. Research support was provided in part by the National Institutes of Health.
About Rush:
Rush University Medical Center includes a 674-bed (staffed) hospital; the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center; and Rush University (Rush Medical College, College of Nursing, College of Health Sciences and the Graduate College).
Rush is currently constructing a 14-floor, 806,000-square-foot hospital building at the corner of Ashland Avenue and Congress Parkway. The new hospital, scheduled to open in 2012, is the centerpiece of a $1-billion, 10-year campus redevelopment plan called the Rush Transformation, which also includes a new orthopedics building (to open in Fall 2009), a new parking garage and central power plant completed in June 2009, renovations of selected existing buildings and demolition of obsolete buildings. The new hospital is being designed and built to conserve energy and water, reduce waste and use sustainable building materials. Rush is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It will be the first full-service "green" hospital in Chicago.
Rush's mission is to provide the best possible care for our patients. Educating tomorrow's health care professional, researching new and more advanced treatment options, transforming our facilities and investing in new technologies all are undertaken with the drive to improve patient care now, and for the future.
Source: Rush University Medical Center
Now, researchers at Rush University Medical Center have identified a cellular pathway that may explain the link.
In a study published in the current issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, the researchers found that alcohol stimulates what is called the epithelial to mesenchymal transition, in which run-of-the-mill cancer cells morph into a more aggressive form and begin to spread throughout the body.
"Our data are the first to show that alcohol turns on certain signals inside a cell that are involved in this critical transition," said Christopher Forsyth, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and biochemistry at Rush University Medical Center and lead author of the study.
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is a hot area of research right now, implicated in the process whereby cancer cells become metastatic. A large body of laboratory and clinical research suggests that it plays a key role in making cancer cells aggressive.
"Cancer cells become dangerous when they metastasize," Forsyth said. "Surgery can remove a tumor, but aggressive tumor cells invade tissues throughout the body and take over. If we can thwart this transition, we can limit cancer's toll."
The researchers treated colon and breast cancer cell lines with alcohol and then looked for the biochemical hallmarks of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, including evidence of a transcription factor called Snail and of the receptor for epidermal growth factor. Snail controls the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; when overexpressed in mice, it induces the formation of multiple tumors. Epidermal growth factor is required by many cancer cells. "They need lots of it," Forsyth said. "They are addicted to it."
Laboratory tests showed that alcohol activated both these and other biochemicals characteristic of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Tests also demonstrated that the alcohol-treated cells had lost their tight junctions with adjacent cells, a preparation for migrating, as metastatic cells do.
In addition, Forsyth and his colleagues found that the same roster of biomarkers was activated in normal intestinal cells treated with alcohol, suggesting that alcohol not only worsens the profile of existing cancer cells but also may initiate cancer by stimulating the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
Other researchers at Rush involved in the study were Yueming Tang, PhD, Maliha Shaikh, MS, Dr. Lijuan Zhang and Dr. Ali Keshavarzian. Research support was provided in part by the National Institutes of Health.
About Rush:
Rush University Medical Center includes a 674-bed (staffed) hospital; the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center; and Rush University (Rush Medical College, College of Nursing, College of Health Sciences and the Graduate College).
Rush is currently constructing a 14-floor, 806,000-square-foot hospital building at the corner of Ashland Avenue and Congress Parkway. The new hospital, scheduled to open in 2012, is the centerpiece of a $1-billion, 10-year campus redevelopment plan called the Rush Transformation, which also includes a new orthopedics building (to open in Fall 2009), a new parking garage and central power plant completed in June 2009, renovations of selected existing buildings and demolition of obsolete buildings. The new hospital is being designed and built to conserve energy and water, reduce waste and use sustainable building materials. Rush is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It will be the first full-service "green" hospital in Chicago.
Rush's mission is to provide the best possible care for our patients. Educating tomorrow's health care professional, researching new and more advanced treatment options, transforming our facilities and investing in new technologies all are undertaken with the drive to improve patient care now, and for the future.
Source: Rush University Medical Center
пятница, 17 июня 2011 г.
Does Prenatal Binge Drinking Harm The Developing Fetus? Evidence Is Scarce
The evidence that binge drinking during pregnancy harms the developing fetus is very limited, according to an article published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (BMJ). There is clearer evidence that regular heavy drinking during the pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of birth defects. However, what impact binge drinking might have, without heavy regular drinking, is unclear, write the authors.
In this article binge drinking means consuming at least five alcoholic drinks in one sitting - approximately 7.5 units or 60 g of alcohol.
The authors' findings come after a comprehensive review of published studies on binge drinking among both pregnant women and those trying to get pregnant. The studies spanned 35 years, 1970-2005, and included over 3,500 articles. The researchers made a shortlist of the 14 most relevant studies. These 14 studies, say the researchers, were of good quality, but did have some methodological flaws.
They found scarce substantive evidence that binge drinking might cause miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, abnormal birthweight, or fetal alcohol syndrome. Although very limited data pointed towards a higher risk of impaired neurodevelopment, these effects were not significant and included disinhibited behavior, reduced verbal IQ, a higher risk of delinquent behavior later in life, and poor academic performance.
The researchers suggest that when the binge drinking takes place may be important, and point to the first 13 weeks of pregnancy as the most impacting on the embryo.
The authors explained "This systematic review found no convincing evidence of adverse effects of prenatal binge drinking, except possibly on neurodevelopmental outcomes."
They suggested that additional research is needed, and urged women to avoid binge drinking during their pregnancies as a precaution.
"When pregnant women report isolated episodes of binge drinking in the absence of a consistently high daily alcohol intake, as is often the case, it is important to avoid inducing unnecessary anxiety, as, at present, the evidence of risk seems minimal," they concluded.
"Systematic review of the fetal effects of prenatal binge drinking"
Jane Henderson, Ulrik Kesmodel, Ron Gray
J Epidemiol Community Health 2007; 61: 1069-75
doi:10.1136/jech.2006.054213
Click here to view Abstract online
Written by??
In this article binge drinking means consuming at least five alcoholic drinks in one sitting - approximately 7.5 units or 60 g of alcohol.
The authors' findings come after a comprehensive review of published studies on binge drinking among both pregnant women and those trying to get pregnant. The studies spanned 35 years, 1970-2005, and included over 3,500 articles. The researchers made a shortlist of the 14 most relevant studies. These 14 studies, say the researchers, were of good quality, but did have some methodological flaws.
They found scarce substantive evidence that binge drinking might cause miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, abnormal birthweight, or fetal alcohol syndrome. Although very limited data pointed towards a higher risk of impaired neurodevelopment, these effects were not significant and included disinhibited behavior, reduced verbal IQ, a higher risk of delinquent behavior later in life, and poor academic performance.
The researchers suggest that when the binge drinking takes place may be important, and point to the first 13 weeks of pregnancy as the most impacting on the embryo.
The authors explained "This systematic review found no convincing evidence of adverse effects of prenatal binge drinking, except possibly on neurodevelopmental outcomes."
They suggested that additional research is needed, and urged women to avoid binge drinking during their pregnancies as a precaution.
"When pregnant women report isolated episodes of binge drinking in the absence of a consistently high daily alcohol intake, as is often the case, it is important to avoid inducing unnecessary anxiety, as, at present, the evidence of risk seems minimal," they concluded.
"Systematic review of the fetal effects of prenatal binge drinking"
Jane Henderson, Ulrik Kesmodel, Ron Gray
J Epidemiol Community Health 2007; 61: 1069-75
doi:10.1136/jech.2006.054213
Click here to view Abstract online
Written by??
четверг, 16 июня 2011 г.
Raptor Pharmaceuticals Corp. Initiates Phase IIa Clinical Study For Convivia(TM)
Raptor
Pharmaceuticals Corp. ("Raptor" or the "Company") (OTC Bulletin Board:
RPTP), announced that its clinical development subsidiary, Bennu
Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("Bennu"), has initiated the Company's first
clinical-stage program after dosing the first cohort in a Phase IIa study
of oral 4-methylpyrazole ("4-MP") in subjects with ALDH2 deficiency, or
ethanol intolerance, as the initial development stage of its Convivia(TM)
program. Convivia(TM) is Bennu's proprietary, oral formulation of 4-MP
designed to reduce peak systemic acetaldehyde levels in ALDH2 deficient
persons following alcohol consumption.
ALDH2 deficiency, sometimes referred to as "Asian flushing syndrome,"
is an inherited metabolic disorder affecting 40% to 50% of East Asian
populations, impairing the activity of the liver enzyme aldehyde
dehydrogenase ("ALDH2"). When people with ALDH2 deficiency drink alcoholic
beverages, there is an accumulation of acetaldehyde, a carcinogenic
intermediate in the metabolism of ethanol, in blood and tissues. Published
retrospective studies have observed a significant correlation between
recurrent drinkers with ALDH2 deficiency and an increase in risk for
digestive tract cancers, liver diseases, late-onset Alzheimer's disease and
other serious health disorders. In addition to the long-term health risks,
elevated acetaldehyde levels produce acute symptoms, including facial
flushing, tachycardia (rapid heart rate), headache, nausea and dizziness.
Although ALDH2 deficient people suffer from unpleasant reactions and
face long-term health risks, a substantial proportion of them are recurring
drinkers of alcoholic beverages. Currently there are no approved treatments
for ALDH2 deficiency, and people with this disorder could potentially
benefit from a treatment that reduces acetaldehyde toxicities.
Convivia(TM) is designed to reduce peak systemic acetaldehyde levels in
ALDH2 deficient persons following alcohol consumption. 4-MP, the active
ingredient in Convivia(TM) and used in this Phase IIa study, is
FDA-approved in an injectible formulation for other indications, but is
investigational for treatment of acetaldehyde toxicities associated with
ethanol exposure in ALDH2 deficient subjects.
Ted Daley, president of Bennu, stated, "ALDH2 deficiency is fueling a
public health concern among clinical geneticists within the Asian medical
community, which underscores the need to address this patient population
with an effective treatment option. Although the risks of cancers and other
health problems associated with this disorder have been documented in
numerous studies over the past several years, they are not widely known to
the general population or to the substantial proportion of Asians who are
at risk. Even light to moderate ethanol intake may expose people with this
condition to increased risks for serious diseases without them realizing
it."
Phase IIa Clinical Trial of Oral 4MP
Pharmaceuticals Corp. ("Raptor" or the "Company") (OTC Bulletin Board:
RPTP), announced that its clinical development subsidiary, Bennu
Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("Bennu"), has initiated the Company's first
clinical-stage program after dosing the first cohort in a Phase IIa study
of oral 4-methylpyrazole ("4-MP") in subjects with ALDH2 deficiency, or
ethanol intolerance, as the initial development stage of its Convivia(TM)
program. Convivia(TM) is Bennu's proprietary, oral formulation of 4-MP
designed to reduce peak systemic acetaldehyde levels in ALDH2 deficient
persons following alcohol consumption.
ALDH2 deficiency, sometimes referred to as "Asian flushing syndrome,"
is an inherited metabolic disorder affecting 40% to 50% of East Asian
populations, impairing the activity of the liver enzyme aldehyde
dehydrogenase ("ALDH2"). When people with ALDH2 deficiency drink alcoholic
beverages, there is an accumulation of acetaldehyde, a carcinogenic
intermediate in the metabolism of ethanol, in blood and tissues. Published
retrospective studies have observed a significant correlation between
recurrent drinkers with ALDH2 deficiency and an increase in risk for
digestive tract cancers, liver diseases, late-onset Alzheimer's disease and
other serious health disorders. In addition to the long-term health risks,
elevated acetaldehyde levels produce acute symptoms, including facial
flushing, tachycardia (rapid heart rate), headache, nausea and dizziness.
Although ALDH2 deficient people suffer from unpleasant reactions and
face long-term health risks, a substantial proportion of them are recurring
drinkers of alcoholic beverages. Currently there are no approved treatments
for ALDH2 deficiency, and people with this disorder could potentially
benefit from a treatment that reduces acetaldehyde toxicities.
Convivia(TM) is designed to reduce peak systemic acetaldehyde levels in
ALDH2 deficient persons following alcohol consumption. 4-MP, the active
ingredient in Convivia(TM) and used in this Phase IIa study, is
FDA-approved in an injectible formulation for other indications, but is
investigational for treatment of acetaldehyde toxicities associated with
ethanol exposure in ALDH2 deficient subjects.
Ted Daley, president of Bennu, stated, "ALDH2 deficiency is fueling a
public health concern among clinical geneticists within the Asian medical
community, which underscores the need to address this patient population
with an effective treatment option. Although the risks of cancers and other
health problems associated with this disorder have been documented in
numerous studies over the past several years, they are not widely known to
the general population or to the substantial proportion of Asians who are
at risk. Even light to moderate ethanol intake may expose people with this
condition to increased risks for serious diseases without them realizing
it."
Phase IIa Clinical Trial of Oral 4MP
среда, 15 июня 2011 г.
One-Third Of Sexually Active Older Adults With HIV/AIDs Has Unprotected Sex
One out of three sexually active older adults infected with HIV has unprotected sex, according to a study by Ohio University researchers. A survey of 260 HIV-positive older adults found that of those having sex, most were male, took Viagra and were in a relationship.
AIDs cases among the over-50 crowd reached 90,000 in 2003. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they will account for half of all HIV/AIDS cases in the United States by 2015 because medical intervention has extended the lifespan of those infected with HIV. Additionally, drugs such as Viagra have made it possible for older adults to remain sexually active longer.
Past studies have shown that up to 65 percent of older adults ages 60 to 71 have sexual intercourse. Among older adults who are HIV-positive, according to the Ohio University findings, 38 percent are sexually active.
"Those who are more likely to engage in riskier behavior - for example, those who are using drugs - are more likely to have unprotected sex," said graduate student Travis Lovejoy, who led the study along with Ohio University health psychologist Timothy Heckman. "What we don't know yet is whether these individuals are in a monogamous relationship with someone else who is HIV positive and believe there is no risk of infection."
The study also found that sexual activity was more prevalent among HIV-positive older adults who were not cognitively impaired, were younger and who considered their overall health to be good.
Because many older adults with HIV are not sexually active, those who do have unprotected sex account for just 13 percent of the overall number of infected people who are aged 50 or older. However, one-third of those who are sexually active have unprotected sex, which suggests that prevention efforts may need to be more highly targeted toward these individuals.
The behavioral information was pulled from a survey of 260 HIV-positive older adults who were participating in a study examining support groups. The study was funded by a three-year, $1.8 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Nursing Research.
Lovejoy presented the findings at the annual conference of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
Contact: Andrea Gibson
Ohio University
View drug information on Viagra.
AIDs cases among the over-50 crowd reached 90,000 in 2003. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they will account for half of all HIV/AIDS cases in the United States by 2015 because medical intervention has extended the lifespan of those infected with HIV. Additionally, drugs such as Viagra have made it possible for older adults to remain sexually active longer.
Past studies have shown that up to 65 percent of older adults ages 60 to 71 have sexual intercourse. Among older adults who are HIV-positive, according to the Ohio University findings, 38 percent are sexually active.
"Those who are more likely to engage in riskier behavior - for example, those who are using drugs - are more likely to have unprotected sex," said graduate student Travis Lovejoy, who led the study along with Ohio University health psychologist Timothy Heckman. "What we don't know yet is whether these individuals are in a monogamous relationship with someone else who is HIV positive and believe there is no risk of infection."
The study also found that sexual activity was more prevalent among HIV-positive older adults who were not cognitively impaired, were younger and who considered their overall health to be good.
Because many older adults with HIV are not sexually active, those who do have unprotected sex account for just 13 percent of the overall number of infected people who are aged 50 or older. However, one-third of those who are sexually active have unprotected sex, which suggests that prevention efforts may need to be more highly targeted toward these individuals.
The behavioral information was pulled from a survey of 260 HIV-positive older adults who were participating in a study examining support groups. The study was funded by a three-year, $1.8 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Nursing Research.
Lovejoy presented the findings at the annual conference of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
Contact: Andrea Gibson
Ohio University
View drug information on Viagra.
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