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Cancer Drug Also Fights Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Monday, June 27, 2005

Immune-targeted rituximab shows good results in two trials
by Robert Preidt


THURSDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- The cancer drug rituximab may benefit lupus patients with central nervous system (CNS) complications, according to a new U.S. study.

"Rituximab appears to be quite effective. It is a kinder, gentler form of treatment lasting up to six months with a low risk of side effects, compared to previous treatments of high-dose steroids and chemotherapy," researcher Michael Neuwelt of the University of
California, San Francisco and Stanford University, said in a prepared statement.

The small 16-month study included 22 patients. More than half of them received rituximab alone, others took the drug in combination with steroids, and a third group took the drug with the chemotherapy agent cyclophosphamide, the current standard treatment for severe CNS lupus.

Sixteen of the patients showed significant improvement and the condition of four others was stabilized, the study said. Brain scans revealed improvements in adverse changes caused by the disease.

Neuwelt stressed that randomized-controlled clinical trials still need to be conducted to determine the effectiveness of rituximab in treating CNS lupus. The findings were presented Thursday at the annual meeting of the European Congress of Rheumatology in Vienna, Austria.

Another study presented at the meeting found rituximab to be a safe and effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. The U.K. study, which included 465 men and women who had had arthritis for about 10 years, examined the effects of two doses of the drug.

"The results of the study's 24-week analysis showed that both doses of rituximab were highly effective, and significantly better than placebo. It seems that the higher of the two doses produced the best effects," Professor Paul Emery of the University of Leeds, said in a prepared statement.

Rituximab targets a specific type of immune cell and helps control inflammation and pain in arthritis patients.


content by:

SOURCE: European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology, news release, June 9, 2005

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Reports Shed Light on Dangers of New MS Drug

Susceptibility to brain infection might be caught in patients in future
By Ed Edelson, HealthDay Reporter


THURSDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- Detailed reports shed new light on why three patients who were treated with the biologic drug Tysabri for either multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease developed severe brain infections.

In three scientific briefs and two editorials released Thursday by the New England Journal of Medicine, the specifics of each case are laid out and analyzed by experts in the field. The journal released the package early after a possible fourth case was reported last week. Two of the first three patients have died.

"This is the first time we've had a peer-reviewed report of the information provided by the company to the public," said Dr. John R. Richert, vice president for research and clinical programs for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. "It is the first time we have been able to peruse details of the cases."

Although the news of the infections first came as a blow to those in the MS community, Richert noted that some of the details in these case reports leave open the possibility that Tysabri might one day return to the market if screening methods are found to detect which patients might be susceptible to the brain infection.

In November 2004, natalizumab (Tysabri) was approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and Crohn's disease, both conditions in which the body's immune system attacks it own tissue. But last February, Elan Corp. and Biogen Idec Inc., which marketed the drug, voluntarily withdrew it after reports that three patients taking it had developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a degenerative brain infection that often is fatal.

The journal reports provide "two major pieces of information we have not had before," Richert said. "One is that in one case, when they looked at blood samples that were serially obtained during the trial [of the drug], the JC virus that causes PML was detected in the blood serum before the onset of symptoms. That raises the possibility that diagnosis of this infection may be possible much earlier than we have thought in people at risk."

The second fact reported in the journal is that "one of the patients who was very, very ill from PML survived and experienced a significant recovery of neurological function," Richert said. "That person does have some significant neurological defects, but has experienced significant improvement. Until this time, we really weren't certain whether PML would be uniformly fatal or whether by stopping the drug and instituting appropriate antiviral therapy we could prevent death and effect clinical improvement."

But it will be a long time, if ever, before Tysabri is allowed back on the market, Richert acknowledged. One unresolved issue is whether the fourth patient who took the drug actually developed PML, since it is a difficult infection to diagnose accurately.

"That fourth case is up in the air," Richert said. "The question of whether that person had PML is still being evaluated."

The first reports of PML in people taking the drug "were certainly a setback," Richert said. "But the information that is newly available with these new reports is actually more encouraging news. There is still a reasonable possibility that Tysabri will eventually be approved for coming back on the market."

That possibility would be welcomed by those with either MS or Crohn's disease. FDA approval was given after carefully controlled studies showed the drug slowed progression of the conditions as no other medication had been able to do.

However, there is a strong cautionary note in the reports, said Dr. Igor J. Koralnik, an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, and co-author of one of the accompanying editorials.

Tysabri is a monoclonal antibody, engineered to attach itself to white blood cells called lymphocytes and prevent them from entering the brain, where they do the damage that causes the disabling symptoms of MS.

That same approach is being used by biomedical researchers to attack a number of other conditions, some rare but also some as widespread as asthma, Koralnik said, and so "we need to learn from this unexpected tragedy and try to get enough information to prevent it
from happening again by understanding the mechanisms and monitoring for this feature."

As his editorial states, the case reports "force us to reconsider the potential risks associated with inhibition of lymphocyte trafficking. Bad things may happen when rescuers are turned back at the gates."

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Discovery May Lead to Lupus Treatments

THURSDAY, July 15 (HealthDayNews) -- Researchers have found that removal of an immune system protein prevents the development of a lupus-like condition in mice, a discovery that could lead to new treatments for lupus.

The protein, called SLAM-associated protein, has previously been found in high levels in animals with autoimmune conditions. Now doctors have more reason to believe the protein contributes to lupus, lead researcher Dr. Stanford Peng, of Washington University
School of Medicine in St. Louis, said in a statement.

"What's most exciting is that normal immune system functions were still largely intact in the experimental mice that lacked (the protein)," Peng said. "Other immune system proteins are potential targets for new autoimmune disease treatments, but they all affect
large portions of the immune system, making weakened immune function a potential side effect of any new drug. Targeting [the protein] for treatment may avoid that risk."

The protein affects the activity of a number of molecules lying on the surface of immune system cells known as lymphocytes.

Lupus affects approximately 1.5 million Americans, causing arthritis, prolonged fatigue, skin rashes, kidney damage, anemia and breathing pain.

The study appears in the July 15 issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

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More Studies Link Painkillers to Heart Problems

Research builds on earlier findings surrounding anti-inflammatory drugs
By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter

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THURSDAY, June 9 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists on both sides of the Atlantic continue to uncover troubling news about commonly used painkillers, including ibuprofen and Celebrex.

The latest data comes from a large British study that found that popular painkillers called NSAIDS -- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- do elevate the risk of heart attack. These drugs include ibuprofen and Vioxx, one of a newer generation of anti- inflammatories called cox-2 inhibitors that was pulled from the U.S. market in September after studies linked it to heightened risks for
heart attack and stroke.

The authors of the study, which appears in the June 11 issue of the British Medical Journal, cautioned against stopping use of the drugs just yet, however.

"We don't think patients/physicians should change treatments/practice on the basis of this study as it is an observational study, not a randomized, controlled clinical trial," said Dr. Julia Hippisley-Cox, lead author of the study. She is a
professor of clinical epidemiology and general practice at the University of Nottingham's Centre for Population Studies.

An observational study is considered less reliable than a randomized
trial.

A separate study in the same issue of the journal, this one out of Canada, found that Celebrex seemed safer than Vioxx and other NSAIDs in elderly patients with congestive heart failure.

But that study, too, had some methodological problems, experts said.

"It's hard to take much away from these (studies). The reason is because of the way these studies are set up and because it would have been more valuable if investigators had told us what the event rates (numbers of heart attacks, rather than percentages) were," said Dr. Robert J. Myerburg, professor of medicine and physiology at the University of Miami School of Medicine. "It's hard to know, from
an impact point of view on individual patients, what all this means."

On the other hand, Myerburg added, this new data does support previous research on cox-2 drugs.

Cox-2 inhibitors, a subclass of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have been under intense scrutiny since September when Vioxx was withdrawn from the market due to concerns about cardiovascular safety. Then similar concerns were raised about Bextra, another cox- 2, then Celebrex and then naproxen -- a traditional NSAID. Bextra was later withdrawn from the market.

As the dominoes started falling, patients and doctors worried whether the cardiovascular effects extended to all cox-2s or even to all NSAIDs, including aspirin, which so far has not been associated with heart problems.

That is one question these two studies tried to address. The question is an important one as many people, especially the elderly, have switched from Vioxx and Bextra to other cox-2s or NSAIDs and may still be at risk for heart-related problems.

For the British study, researchers identified over 9,200 patients across the United Kingdom who had had a first heart attack within a four-year period. Then they analyzed what drugs the patients had been prescribed and compared this information with data on more than 86,000 comparable healthy people.

People who had been prescribed NSAIDs in the three months before their heart attack were at a higher risk when compared with people who had not taken NSAIDs in the previous three years, the study found.

People taking ibuprofen were at a 24 percent increased risk while those taking diclofenac (Solaraze, Voltaren) faced a 55 percent increased risk.

Cox-2 inhibitors were also associated with higher rates of first- time heart attacks. People prescribed Celebrex in the three months prior to the heart attack were at a 21 percent higher risk and those prescribed Vioxx were at a 32 percent increased risk versus people who did not use these drugs at all, the researchers found.

That translates into one extra heart attack in a year for every 695 patients aged 65 and over taking Vioxx. For ibuprofen, there would be one additional heart attack for every 1,005 patients in this age group and, for diclofenac, there would be one extra heart attack for every 521 patients, according to the researchers.

"Our results show the increase in risk of myocardial infarction [heart attack] observed in the VIGOR study is genuine but also raise concerns about the toxicity of conventional NSAIDs such as diclofenac and ibuprofen and the newer selective NSAIDs [Cox-2s]," Hippisley-Cox said in an e-mail interview.

The scientists also found no evidence of heart-protective effects for naproxen, which includes such brand-name medications as Aleve and Naprosyn.

Hippisley-Cox said the researchers still need to look at all safety data for the drugs including that from unpublished studies.

The Canadian study looked at prescribing information for 2,256 patients aged 66 or over in Quebec.

The risk of death and recurrent congestive heart failure combined was 26 percent higher in people who had been prescribed NSAIDs or Vioxx than in those prescribed Celebrex.

This indicates that Celebrex may be safer in this group of people and that differences may exist between NSAIDs and cox-2s as well as among cox-2s, the researchers said.

But the implication that a cox-2 is safer than an NSAID is a strong statement with challenging implications and needs to be backed by strong science, Myerburg said. He also believes these two new studies lack the rigorous science found in the highest level of research -- a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

More information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a public health advisory on NSAIDs.

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Green Tea May Protect Against Autoimmune Diseases

Tea compound suppressed immune-cell activity in skin and salivary glands
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Green tea, already lauded for its cancer-fighting ability, may also protect against certain autoimmune diseases, new research suggests.

Green teas inhibit the expression of antigens made by the body, substances that can trigger an immune response, explained study author Stephen Hsu, an associate professor in the School of Dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He is to report on the research Sunday at the Arthritis Foundation's Arthritis Research Conference in Atlanta.

He focused on EGCG, a substance found in green tea known to suppress inflammation, and its effect on skin and salivary gland cells. In one autoimmune disorder, Sjogren\'s syndrome, the salivary glands are affected, causing dry mouth. In another autoimmune disorder, lupus, the skin is affected.

Hsu's team isolated 130 autoantigens from cells and exposed them to EGCG. Autoantigens are molecules in the body with useful functions, according to Hsu, but changes in either their amount or their location can result in an unwanted immune response.

Of the 130 autoantigens “most were inhibited or without changes”; when exposed to the EGCG, he said. “Among them, a group of key autoantigens were inhibited.”

While the research is very preliminary, he said, eventually green tea might help protect cells from being attacked by the autoantigens. Besides applications for the dry mouth that affects those with Sjogren's, Hsu said green tea might prove useful for the skin found in lupus.

The Georgia researcher speculated that EGCG modulates the presence of the autoantigens, in addition to its ability to suppress inflammation.

According to Hsu, other research with green tea in animal models has shown it can reduce arthritis.

The new study is “a significant beginning” said Nihal Ahmad, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, who was part of a team in 1999 that showed that polyphenols (of which EGCG is one) in green tea could prevent induced arthritis in mice.

The Hsu research, he said, “appears to have great potential,” though it “needs more work”. However, “based on the cell culture study, we can only say that we can be hopeful.”

More information

To learn more about tea and cancer prevention, visit the National
Cancer Institute.

content by:

SOURCES: Stephen Hsu, Ph.D., associate professor, School of Dentistry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta; Nihal Ahmad, Ph.D., assistant professor, dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison; June 19, 2005, presentation, Arthritis Foundation\'s Arthritis Research Conference, Atlanta

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Honey and Cinnamon

Friday, June 24, 2005

It is found that mixture of Honey and Cinnamon cures most of the diseases.

Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world.

Ayurvedic as well as Yunani medicine have been using honey as a vital medicine for centuries.

Scientists of today also accept honey as a Ram Ban (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases.

Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.

Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients also.

A famous magazine named Weekly World News published in Canada dated 17 January, 95 has given a list of diseases that can be cured by Honey and Cinnamon as researched by western scientists.


Arthritis
Take one part honey to two parts of luke warm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body slowly.

It is noticed that the pain recedes within a minute or two.

Or arthritis patients may daily, morning and night take one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder.

If drunk regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured.

In a recent research done at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week out of the 200 people so treated practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

Hair Loss
Those suffering from hair loss or baldness, may apply a paste of hot olive oil, one tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair.

It was found very effective if kept for 5 mins. also.

Bladder Infections
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of luke warm water and drink it.

It destroys the germs of the bladder.

Toothache
Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth.

This may be done 3 times a day daily till such time that the tooth has stopped aching.

Cholesterol
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, if given to a cholesterol patient, it reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours.

As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day any chronic cholesterol is cured.

As per the information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complains of cholesterol.

Colds
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon luke warm honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days.

This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

Infertility
Yunani and Ayurvedic have been using honey for years in medicine to strengthen the semen of men

If impotent men regularly take two tablespoon of honey before sleeping, their problem will be solved.

In China, Japan and Far-East countries, women who do not conceive and to strengthen the uterus have been taking cinnamon powder for centuries.

Women who cannot conceive may take a pinch of cinnamon powder in half teaspoon of honey and apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day, so that it slowly mixes with the saliva and enters the body.

A couple in Merryland, America had no children for 14 years and had left hope of having a child of their own.

When told about this process husband and wife started taking honey and cinnamon as stated above, the wife conceived after a few months and had twins at full term.

Upset Stomach
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS : According to the studies done in India & Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

Heart Diseases
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread or chappati instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast.

It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack.

Also those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, are kept miles away from the next attack.

Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat.

In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that due to the increasing age the arteries and veins which lose their flexibility and get clogged are revitalized.

Immune System
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.

Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts.

Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

Indigestion
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

Influenza
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

Longevity
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arrests the ravages of old age.

Take 4 spoons of honey, 1spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea.

Drink 1/4 cup, 3 to 4 times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age.

Life span also increases and even if a person is 100 years old, starts performing the chores of a 20 year old.

Pimples
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste.

Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water.

If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

Skin Infections
Eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections are cured by applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts.

Weight Loss
Daily in the morning, 1/2 hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup water.
If taken regularly it reduces the weight of even the most obese person.

Also drinking of this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

Cancer
Recent research in Japan and Australia has reveled that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully.

Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month 3 times a day.

Fatigue
Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful than detrimental to the body strength.

Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon power in equal parts are more alert and flexible.

Dr. Milton who has done research says that half tablespoon honey taken in one glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3.00 p.m. when the vitality of the body starts decreasing, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

Bad Breath
People of South America, first thing in the morning gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water.

So their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

Hearing Loss
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder taken in equal parts restores hearing.

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Banana and Banana ..

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Bananas. Containing three natural sugars -

sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives aninstant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.

No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert..

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives,

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and,with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs.

The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.

It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6 and B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium Banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

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