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FDA OK's new anemia drug safety plan

FDA OK's new anemia drug safety plan

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it has approved a risk management program for certain drugs used to treat anemia. The federal agency says the new program is designed to inform healthcare providers and their patients about the risks of a class of drugs called Erythropoiesis- Stimulating Agents. For patients with cancer, the program is also designed to help ensure the appropriate administration of the drugs, which they receive to treat anemia that can occur as a result of chemotherapy. ESAs -- including epoetin alfa, marketed as Procrit and Epogen, and darbepoetin alfa, marketed as Aranesp -- are forms of the human protein eryth- ropoietin, which stimulates bone marrow to make red blood cells, the FDA said. ESAs are approved for the treatment of anemia that may occur as a result of kidney failure, certain kinds of chemotherapy, the drug AZT and to treat anemia among certain patients undergoing surgery. Procrit, Epogen and Aranesp are manufactured Amgen Inc. of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Personal Care

Radiotherapy tumor tracking study reported

Radiotherapy tumor tracking study reported

CAPE CORAL, Fla. - U.S. medical scientists say they have demonstrated that targeted radiotherapy in real-time pro- state tumor tracking reduces side effects. The multi-center clinical study of the new technology, manufactured by Calypso Medical Technologies Inc., involved high doses of radio- therapy for prostate cancer with tightly controlled, precise real-time tracking of the tumor targets. Researchers said organ motion is prevalent and unpredictable during radiation therapy and can be caused by normal physiologic events, such as digestion, breathing or coughing. Tracking and responding to that motion is critical for radiation treatments because internal movement of the organ and tumor increases the likelihood the radiation beam will miss the intended target and deliver radiation to surrounding healthy tissue causing side effects. "This is the first comparative study to show that margin reduction in prostate cancer radiation therapy has clinically significant and measurable benefits in de- creasing acute toxicity and short-term side effects, said the study's lead investigator, Dr. Constantine Manz of 21st Century Oncology in Cape Coral, Fla., "By reducing acute toxicity, we hope these patients may also experience a sig- nificant reduction of long-term side effects." The study is reported in the journal Urology.

Weight-Management Programs

Kidney cancer drug also shrinks tumors

Kidney cancer drug also shrinks tumors

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study has found a drug used to treat advanced kidney cancer can also shrink kidney tumors prior to surgery. Phys- icians at the university's school of medicine found therapy before surgery with the drug sorafenib (Nexavar) can reduce the size of large tumors and can be safely administered with- out adding significantly to the risks of surgery. "We found that primary kidney tumors responded to this therapy, shrinking up to 40 percent prior to surgery," said Dr. Kimryn Rathmell, an assistant professor who led the research. "What this means for kidney cancer patients is that their surgery may be less extensive and, we hope, can provide a better outcome for patients because of tumor shrinkage." Study co- author Dr. Matthew Nielsen, an assistant professor of surgery, added: "This study is a major contribution to the field, demonstrating that Nexavar is well-tolerated for pre- surgery use, with no increase in the rates of complications or difficulties recovering from surgical removal of the kidney. We are optimistic that this and future similar studies will ultimately allow us to offer individualized treatment strategies for patients with this common and dan- gerous disease." The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Children's Health

Cholesterol-caused heart disease studied

Cholesterol-caused heart disease studied

SEATTLE - U.S. scientists say they've discovered cholesterol causes atherosclerosis by disrupting a network of interacting immune system proteins. University of Washington researchers studied the role of macrophages, immune-system cells that destroy proteins derived from cholesterol. They discovered that when macrophages become overloaded with such proteins, they become what scientists have called foam cells, due to their foamy appearance, and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. The researchers also found drugs that lower cholesterol levels and inflammation help restore the macrophage network to more normal functioning. The scientists said their findings should change the way heart disease is treated, making the goal of treatment the restoration of functioning of a disrupted protein network, rather than the reduction of cholesterol levels. The study that included Lev Becker, Sina Gharib, Angela Irwin, Ellen Wijsman, Tomas Vaisar, John Oram, and Jay Heineckeappears in the journal Cell Metabolism.

Low Fat Recipes

To Improve Physical Fitness:

To Improve Physical Fitness:

1. Do a squat every time you pick something up. Instead of bending over in the usual way, which stresses the lower back, bend your knees and squat. This forces you to use your leg muscles and will build strength.
2. Every time you stop at a traffic light (or the bus does), tighten your thighs and butt muscles and release as many times as you can. (Don't worry, no one will see it!) This will firm leg and buttock muscles, improve blood flow -- and keep you mildly amused!
3. Whenever you're standing on a line, lift one foot a half-inch off the ground. The extra stress on your opposite foot, ankle, calf and thigh, plus your buttocks, will help firm and tone muscles. Switch feet every few minutes.

Trivia and Amazing Facts

FDA to reduce medical radiation exposure

FDA to reduce medical radiation exposure

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it is starting a program designed to reduce unnecessary medical radiation exposure. The FDA said its initiative will focus on three types of imaging procedures: computed tomography, nuclear medicine and fluoroscopy. Those procedures, officials said, are the greatest contributors to total U.S. radiation exposure and use much higher radiation doses than other radiographic procedures, such as standard X-rays, dental X-rays and mammography. Although the medical imaging proce- dures have led to early disease diagnoses that help save lives, the FDA said the imaging technology, as do all med- ical procedures, pose some risks. "The amount of radiation Americans are exposed to from medical imaging has dramatic- ally increased over the past 20 years," said Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radio- logical Health. "The goal of FDA's initiative is to support the benefits associated with medical imaging, while mini- mizing the risks." The federal agency said its initiative will promote the safe use of medical imaging devices, support informed clinical decision-making, and increased patient awareness of their own exposure. The FDA said it also intends to issue requirements for manufacturers of imaging devices to incorporate safeguards into the design of their machines to develop safer technologies. The agency said it will hold a public meeting March 30-31 to solicit input on what requirements to establish.

Nutritional Shake Mix (Formula 1)