February 2007: Breast-feed, beat stress:
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The old belief that breast-feeding is best seems to be supported by research on almost 9,000 children from infancy in the 1970 British Cohort Study. The conclusion is that breast-fed babies cope better in later life with stresses such as parents' divorce or separation. The research suggests this may be because the quality of early physical mother-baby contact may influence the development of the neural and hormonal pathways involved in stress response. Another theory is that breast-feeding improves mother-baby bonding, which minimises anxiety in response to stress.
February 2007: Diet for Deep Breaths:
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Fruit and vegetables appear to improve as we age. Beta-carotene, one of the antioxidants called arotenoids, which give fruits and vegetables their red, yellow and orange colourings, has been found to slow the ageing-related decline in lung power. Researchers at an epidemiology centre in Paris made the discovery by assessing FEV1, the volume of air forced out in one second after a deep breath, in more than 500 people. the best results were registered by those who had higher blood levels of beta-carotene and did not smoke. The researchers suspect beta-carotene compensates for harm caused by oxygen free radicals and lessens the damage of heavy smoking.
February 2007: New cells in the pain:
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Could stem cells, which can change into any type of cell, be transplanted into the brains of very premature babies to replace injured arears? A team at Imperial College London is studying the possibilities in a project. The stem cells will be isolated from a baby's bloodstream during pregnancy and used to grow more cells. these will be transplanted into the newborn baby's damaged brain. Researchers hope the technique will eventually also help patients with degenerative brain diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
February 2007: Even a little Veg helps:
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Low levels of folate, a B vitamin in fruit and leafy green vegetables, as well as high levels, are now thought to cut bowel cancer risk. Among volunteers followed for 17 years in Sweden, those with high and low folate levels had the same smaller risk, but the peolpe in between were found to be almost twice as likely to develop the disease.
February 2007: Call for sunbed law:
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Regulation of sunbed parlours in Wales is being demanded because of the rising skin cancer incidence. the British Medical Association in Wales records that from 1998 to 2002 the UK figure for malignant melanoma cases jumped from 6,000 to 8,000. The BMA is asking the Welsh Assembly Government for legislation to minimise skin cancer levels at least in Wales. The legislation demanded would keep children out of sunbed parlours, protect adults from over-exposure, ensure supervision of sunbed users and outlaw coin-operated machines.
February 2007: Tired and Tetchy:
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Stress is now blamed for sleep deprivation and resulting moodiness. A Sleep Council report says a quarter of all those interviewed attributed morning grumpiness to stress. The researchers married this figure to the 18 per cent of people who say they never get a good night's sleep. the cure, say researchers, is a combination of good diet, exercise and a comfortable bed - a not unexpected conclusion from an organisation funded by bed manufacturers. One view from the report is that better sleep patterns in southern England may be linked to greater prosperity, healthier eating, exercise and possibly more spending on beds. Another finding is that more women are morning grumps, probably because they have more responsibilities, the stress of which disturbs their sleep.
September 2006: Living alone increases risk of a coronary.
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The biggest heart disease risks are age and living alone, report researchers who studied more than 138,000 adults aged between 30 and 69. The likelihood of acute coronary syndrome doubled among lone women aged more than 60 and lone men aged more than 50. the researchers thought the lifestyles of people living alone introduced risk factors, including smoking, obesity, high cholesterol levels, fewer visits to the doctor and reduced accessibility to social support networks.
September 2006: Protective Fish.
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The spread of malignancy from prostate cancer may be preventable by omega 3 fats found in oily fish as salmon, mackerel and fresh tuna. this claim for the effect of omega 3 follows earlier findings that it protects against all cancers. Omega 3 is known to stop the activity of omega 6 fats, which are thought to feed tumours. Meanwhile, a French study has reported that a greater prostate cancer risk is linked to higher dairy products and calcium intake, though no clinical explanation is given.
September 2006: Proof of pain.
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Specialised scans, measuring blood levels and oxygenation in the brain, have given the first scientific evidence that premature babies suffer pain nedding alleviation during procedures such as heel-lancing for blood tests.
September 2006: Worm with a remedy.
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A worm could eventually help asthmatics. researchers have discovered that asthmatics mice breathed better after being infected with parasitic flatworm "Scistosoma mansoni". They think a protein in the worm blocks the inflammation that causes asthma symptoms and that if replicated it could lead to new treatments. This phenomenon is in line with theories that being protected in a sanitised society from bacteria and parasites in early life stunts the development of strong immunity and has led to the increase in allergy problems.
September 2006: Too few organs.
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Dr Glenn said," Previous research tells us that in theory between 50 and 70 per cent of people are happy to donate. However, this does not come across. we hope the project will help to explain why this gap exists." Indo-Asians and African Caribbeans are particularly reluctant to donate, yet in these groups hypertension and diabetes are more common, so kidney failure rate is high, increasing the need for transplants. the researchers will consider possible factors such as individual or cultural beliefs and over-reliance on the NHS.
July 2006: Numark Naturals on the shelves.
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Numark's toiletries have been rebranded as Numark Naturals and now come in new packaging with new formulations.
The range includes moisturisering hand washes, bath and shower gels, and all products contain natural ingredients.
July 2006: Fish for good behaviour.
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The mothers of children who display anti-social behaviour may have eaten too little oily fish in pregnancy. A 15 year study of 14,000 expectant women and their families has found that low consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, which are present in oily fish, was associated with "higher levels of pathological social interactions" in the children. the behavoiur abnormalities included an inability to make friends. Another observation was that the children had verbal IQs six points lower than the acerage. The findings emerged from a wide-ranging study conducted by Bristol University researchers and the American National Institute of Health.
July 2006: Hedrin overcomes resistance issues.
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Resistance issues, are not an issue for Hedrin. The treatment is the UK's first and only licensed medicine specifically developed to eradicate head lice withou neurotoxins and the resistance issues commonly associated with them.
The formula is odour-less, colurless and pesticide-free, so is kind to the hair and scalp, pleasant for children and easy for parents apply. The two-dose treatment deals with the widespread problem of eggs and re-infestation by ensuring that hatched lice are killed on the second application.
July 2006: Protein to beat baby bugs.
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A protein that protects babies and small children from infections has now been laboratory-produced. many babies that become infected have low levels of the protein, known as MBL, and although most suffer only coughs and colds, a few fall prey to septicaemia and meningitis. A team backed by the charity Action medical Research have cultured the protein, and multi-national trials are starting. the researchers may recruit chemotherapy patients for trials as they have weaker immunity.
July 2006: Another job for statins?
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Could statins, which are routinely used to lower cholesterol in heart patients, also control asthma? They already reduce the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, which develops when the immune system reacts as if the body is under the attack. A similar inflammatory response is typical in astham. With this evidence, Glasgow University researchers, supported by Asthma UK, are testing the anti-inflammatory effects of statins in asthma.
May 2006: Oily fish dispute.
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A study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that oily fish may out have any benefit for peopl's health as often claimed.
The report says there is no strong medical evidence that omega 3 fats affect death rates, heart disease or cancer.
May 2006: Prostate confusion.
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The Prostate Cancer Charity has said that many men are not aware that the risk of prostate cancer increases with age. The charity's Chief Executive said, " 1 in 4 people over 55 did NOT think increasing age was a major risk factor in prostate cancer - this is highly concerning given the sharp increase in the incidence of prostate cancer with advancing age."
May 2006: Vaccine breakthrough.
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Scientists have found that vaccinations may help reduceincidences of otitis medea in young children.
Researchers at the University of Defence in the Czech Republic said that, where babies were vaccinated with Spreptorix before the age of six months, cases of otitis medea fell by around 30 percent. tests were carried out on 5,00 babies.
Head of the study said," We found a reduction in the ear, nose and throat specialist-confirmed episodes of acute otitis media by about a third in infants in the vaccine group compared with controls. This study showed a statistically significant and clinically relevant reduction in episodes of acute otitis media."
May 2006: New vaccine for pneumococcal disease.
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A new vaccination is to be added to the UK's immunisation schedule this summer. An injection of Prevenar at two months, four months and one year is designed to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease including bacteraemia. A three-year trial showed Prevenar to have an overall efficacy rate of 97.4 per cent. While pneumococcal disease can affect any age group, it is commonest in infants and young children under the age of two years.
Pneumococcal meningitis is the UK's second commonest cause of bacterial meningitis (after meningococcal group B disease) and is among the most deadly - one in five children who contract the illness will die.
May 2006: Two cervical vaccines.
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Two companies have now applied for licensing approval for their cervical cancer vaccines, called Gardasil and Cervarix. It is not yet know how long immunity will last with these vaccines and whether a booster will be required, but a new study reports that antibody levels with Ceravarix were maintained for 4.5 years of follow-up (Lancet Online, April 4).
Cancer Research UK has suggested in a new report that vaccines against specific viruses could eventually prevent one in 10 cases of cancer in britain. As well as cervical cancer (which is associated with human papilloma virus), it says that viral infection is linked to cnacer of the liver, nasopharyngeal cancer, and certain types of lymphoma and leukaemia.
May 2006: Osteoporosis preferences.
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In a study in which 321 postmeopausal women received both once-weekly and once-monthly treatment for osteoporosis, 71 per cent of the 298 patients who expressed a prefernce preferred the monthly regimen, Roche reports.
May 2006: Shingles vaccine on the way.
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The first vaccine against shingles (herpes zoster) may soon be marketed. Sanofi Pasteur MSD has had preliminary approval from the European licensing body to market its vaccine, called Zostavax, to prevent shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia.
Zostavax contains the same live attenuated varicella-zoster virus as the company's existing chickenpox vaccine, but at a higher concentration. The company is expecting a licence for use in patients aged 60 years and over.
In clinical trials published last year, vaccine or placebo was given to around 40,000 people aged 60 years or older. After three years' follow-up, there was a significant reduction in incidence of shingles in the vaccine group and post-herpetic neuralgia was reduced.
April 2006: Website provides help with obesity clinics.
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A website has been set up to help healthcare professionals who are thinking about running weight management clinics.
Produced by the British Meat Nutrition Education Service (BMNES), the site provides information on obesity, nutrition and excercise. it also features a toolkit containing letters, charts, templates and meal plans to help healthcare professionals support patients participating in a weight management programme, based on experience drawn from a number of previous projects. www.weightmanagementguide.co.uk
April 2006: EC fast track drugs scheme.
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The European Commission has announced a fast track medicines' authorisation process.
The initiative will allow faster access to new drugs by patients suffering from life-threatening or seriously debilitating diseases, or conditions for which no treatment exists. The rules will also apply to medicines required in response to emergencies such as a bioterrorist attack or influenza epidemic.
Pharmaceutical companies will have to apply for a "conditional marketing authorisation", granted only if an expert committee decides the benefits to public health of making the product available must outweigh the fact that trial data is incomplete. The authorisation will be valid for one year and legally obliges the drug firm to complete safety and effectiveness studies.
Pharmaceutical innovation will be stimulated under the process because pharmaceutical companies will benefit from an earlier return on their investment in a new product, commented the E.C.
April 2006: Diabetes pack.
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Roche Diagnostics has introduced an information pack to support glucose testing by patients with diabetes.
Developed in response to patient concerns about the availability of blood glucose testing strips, the resource is the latest in a series of support materials developed by Roche to help patients manage their condition.
April 2006: Evidence backs honey, says experts.
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There ia a large body of evidence supporting the use of honey as a dressing for a wide range of wounds, a study has concluded.
Honey research experts, analysed the outcomes of randamised controlled trials, and demonstrated that the healing obtained with honey was not due to a placebo effect.
Honey's antibacterial activity provided a moist wound healing environment without the risk of bacterial growth, while its anti-inflammatory properties reduced oedema, exudate and scarring. Further more, honey stimulated tissue granulation, debridement and reduced malodour.
March 2006: ASDA cuts 24% of salt from customers' diets.
To tie in with Salt Awareness Week, ASDA has upweighted its own food pledge following 650 reductions in fat, salt and sugar during 2005. As a result, a typical weekly shop at ASDA could now have 24% less salt than exactly the same "basket" of groceries did a year earlier. The "up weighting" of the pledge will mean further focus on additives and ingredients with a first illustartion of this being the total removal of monosodium glutamate as an ingredient from all ASDA foods last year.
March 2006: Ecover opens ecological production plant.
Environment cleaning products manufacturer Ecover is building a new factory in the Parc Paysager d'Activities de Landacres, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. It is being built to meet increased demand in the UK, Europe and America and is one of the first ever production plants in France. The UK is now Ecover's biggest market with sustained growth in excess of 20% in 2005. the proximity of Boulogne-sur-Mer and Calais will provide Ecover with efficient delivery of products to the UK with minimum environmrntal impact.
March 2006: Remote Thai village gets water with help from Power Health.
At the end of 2005, a team of volunteers from the Karen Hilltribes Trust, built a fresh water system frof inhabitants of the remote village in north west Thailand.The money required to fund this system was provided by Power Health, and as a result, 240 people now have the benefit of clean water and the prospect of no more typhoid.
March 2006: Soya may help to reduce blood cholesterol levels.
The Joint Health Claims Initiative (JHCI), a non-governmental independent organisation consisting of representatives from consumer protection groups, food law enforcers and the food industry, has published the impartial advice that "the inclusion of at least 25g of soya protein per day as part of a diet low in saturated fat can help reduce blood cholesterol levels".
March 2006: Can 90 minutes of football cause players stress?
A new study at FC Barcelona looks at the stress during a football match. FC Barcelona, one of the world's biggest football clubs, is a leader in antioxidant research. They are currently undertaking a study in collaboration with the barcelona Olympic training Centre (CAR), in which they have selected Pharma Nord's Bio-Quinone Q10 and Bio-Antioxidant as combination which may help to reduce injuries caused by the oxidative stress in high performance athletes.
March 2006: Raising awareness of the safety and effectiveness of natural supplements.
This month Dr Jay Udani's abstract on Phase 2's effect on the Glycemic Index won 2nd place at the third annual Scripps Conference in Caliifornia. the conference, which was attended by over 300 physicians, was set up by The Sripps Centre for Integrative medicines to raise interest and awareness of the safety and effectiveness of herbal and dietary supplements. At the conference, more than two dozen nationally renowned medical expert presented an evidence-based, comprehensive and timely overview of natural supplements to physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, other healthcare providers and the general public.
March 2006: Oily fish helps to make 'babies brainier'.
Eating oily fish and seeds in pregnancy can boost children's future brain power and social skills, research suggests.
A study of 9,000 mothers and children in Avon suggested those who consumed less of the essential fatty acid Omega-3 had children with lower IQs. These children also had poorer motor skills and hand-to-eye co-ordination, research in The Economist said. The Food Standards Agency says pregnant women should consume only one or two portions of oily fish a week.
March 2006: WHO moves on fake medicines.
The World health Organisation wants to create a global task force to tackle the growing problem of counterfeit medicines.
Fake drugs are a worldwide problems accounting for 10 per cent of the global medicines trade, said WHO at a conference held in Rome resently.
"People don't die from carrying a fake handbag or wearing a fake T-shirt. They can die from taking a counterfeit medicine, " warned Howard Zucker, WHO's assistant director-general for health technology and pharmaceuticals.
March 2006: R&D spend on medicines down for second year.
medicines research in the UK is under threat from global competition, rising costs, bureaucracy and the activities of animal rights extremists, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has warned.
A combination of these factors has led to a 2 per cent reduction in expenditure on research and development of new medicines by UK pharmaceutical companies, to £3.2 billion in 2004, said the ABPI. This is the second successive year in which R&D investment has declined.
February 2006: New Zealand Natural Food Company becomes Comvita UK.
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In December, New Zealand Natural Food Company changed its name to Comvita UK to reflect its recent bay-out and status as global market leader of active manuka honey products. Consumer manager for Comvita comments,"The UK health market has embraced Comvita Manuka Honey and we have great plans for the brand." Comvita UK will be exhibiting at the Natural Trade Show in Brighton in March.
February 2006: Get ready for Fairtrade Fortnight.
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Fairtrade Fortnight takes place from march 6-19 in 2006. this year the Fairtrade Foundation is encouraging more businesses to increase their involvement. the consumer message for next year's Fairtrade Fortnight will be Make Fairtrade Your habit. It will include a celebrity poster campaign where famous names will reveal their Fairtrade shopping habits. the latest TNS Superpanel data shows that in the year ending October 2005 penetration of Fairtrade products in UK households rose by 20%.
February 2006: Soft & Chewy vitamins on TV.
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A national TV campaign on GMTV and satellite will run from January 2 to February 19 is running for Bassett's Soft & Chewy Omega-3 DHA and Vitamins. There will also be consumer PR targetting a range of publications including national and regional press to support the brand. the product provides 100% RDA of essential vitamins A, C, D and E and 100mg omega-3 DHA in a one-a-day pastille.
February 2006: Hipp Hipp hooray for an award-winning organic baby food range.
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Hipp Organic's Stage 2 range has won the silver award for Best Baby Food/Drink at the 13th Mother & baby Magazine Awards held in London.
February 2006: Quorn to sponsor National Vegetarian Week.
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The vegetarian Society is entering into another successful working partnership with Quorn, who will this year once again be supporting National Vegetarian Week. Quorn's marketing controller, says: "We want as many people as possible to learn about the benefits of a healthy, balanced, vegetarian lifestyle and we work hard to make sure that every product in our Quorn range is fully approved by The Vegetarian Society."
February 2006: European Commission moves on creatine.
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A move by the European Commission to add creatine monohydrate to the list of ingredients permitted for use in sports nutrition products would have the unintended effect of banning all other forms of creatine, leading industry lobbyists. "By specifying that creatine monohydrate may in future be used in foods for particular nutritional purposes, including sports nutrition products, the Commission would, possibly unintentionally, be imposing a ban on the use of all other forms of the nutrient. this will affect a number of products which have been on the market for several years, using such ingrediants as creatine citrate, and may greatly limit future product innovation and development in the sector."
February 2006: Surge in vitamin D sales after cancer prevention link.
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Over the past week supplementary healthcare retailers may have noticed an increase in sales of vitamin D after it was suggested that this supplement may reduce the risk of cancer. A recent US study has found that vitamin D can reduce the risk of cancer by as much as half, significantly reducing the risk of contracting breast, colon and ovarian cancer.
February 2006: Feverfew reduces migraine attacks.
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Researchers in Germany have found that the herb feverfew really can beat migraine. German scientists have identified an extract that seems to prevent the blinding headaches that afflict an estimated 10% of the UK population. They tested it on 170 patients and found it cut the number of migraine attacks they suffered by almost 40 per cent. previous studies have suggested it stops the body producing substances known to trigger inflammation, is effective against arthritis, eases menstraul cramps and lowering blood pressure. But it is for curing and preventing headaches that it is best known.
February 2006: Fall in heart disease death rate.
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Death rates for heart disease and stroke in England and wales have fallen by 8% between 2003 and 2004 to 1,104 per million. the death rate from strokes also fell during this period by 12%, according to Office for National Statistics figures. Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation, said: "We cannot be complacent. A lot needs to be done to curb our growing waistlines and we must help people to quit smoking and address the underlying social conditions that contribute to inequalities in heart disease statistics."
January 2006: Sick days cost the UK economy £1.7bn a year.
The major concern of most business owners and managers is staff absence. Just last year the UK economy was hit by a loss of £12.2bn through staff absence, according to a survey conducted by the employer's group and insurance frim AXA. G&G Vitamin, a nutritional company has commissioned the creation of a free nutritional deficiency test. This test, which is available online at www.vittest.com, is quick and easy and comes with free nutritional advice from a trained practionioner. G&G says it also provides its staff with a daily multi-vitamin supplement to help prevent illness.
January 2006: BioCare appoints new managing director.
James McEuen, 36, has been appointed as the new managing director of BioCare, the Birmingham-based company which sells more than 170 natural products, ranging from vitamins and minerals to probiotics, fish oil and herbal combinations.
January 2006: Natural decongestant Olbas appears on TV.
A new national TV advertising campaign worth £1.9m has been unveiled by GR Lane Health Products for leading natural decongestant - Olbas. Running for four months until the spring, the range advertisement will show a family of animated 2noses2 suffering with colds and illustartes that the Olbas range provides a solution for all the family.
January 2006: Herbal teas continue to grow in popularity.
With consumers becoming increasingly more focused on health, it is not surprising that the infusions and green tea segments are continuing to grow at an impressive rate of 17% and 28% respectively, according to Nielsen Scantrack, October 2005. and 80% of consumers accessing the "healthier teas" market through the brand.
January 2006: Red wine can ease sore joints.
Red wine could hold the secret to repairing joint damage caused by oesteoarthritis, according to the latest research into its potential benefits (Daily mail, November 29, 2005). Scientists have found that resveratrol, a powerful anti-oxidant found in certain types of grape, appears to halt the damage done to cartilage - the gristle-like substance that covers the ends of bones in a joint - and speed up recovery. During laboratory experiments, tissue was taken from patients undergoing knee replacement surgery and cells were exposed to small doses of resveratrol. the results, presented at a recent Americam College of Rheumatology meeting in San Diego, showed the wine chemical protected cells in the knee jointagainst further damage.
January 2006: Garlic makes warts vanish.
New research has shown that garlic can get rid of warts and corns (Daily Mail, November 29, 2005). Patients had up to 100 warts each, mostly on hands. But after being treated twice a day with a paste made of garlic extract, the warts disappeared within two weeks and when they were checked four months later, there was no sign of the warts reappearing. Researchers also treated corns with the garlic preparation, and 8 out of 10 of these also cleared up after three weeks. " This study demonstrated that garlic has definite curing effects on warts and corns," say the researchers, led by Dr Farzaneh Dehghani, reporting their findings in The International Journal of Dermatology.
January 2006: Diabetes deaths will rise by 25%, says WHO.
A recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report has warned that the number of deaths caused by diabetes will increase by 25% over the next decade. it is vital that private industry, academia and government work in partnership to make progress in the fight against diabetes, says the Oxford Health Alliance, which aims to pursue and secure more effective public, private and social policies to address the growing pandemic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardio-vascular disease and certain cancers. For more information visit www.oxha.org.
January 2006: New website helps allergy sufferers online.
Just launched is The Allergy Practice, a new online service, aimed at providing key information and access to diagnostic services for the 18m UK residents who will develop an allergy at some point in their life. For practical, professional help and solutions relating to allergy conditions, visit www.theallergypractice.co.uk.
December 2005: Apidra launches
Apidra ia an insulin glulisine produced by recombinant DNA technoloogy in ESCerichia coli, launched this month by Sanofi-Aventis.
Indicated for treating adults with diabetes mellitus, Apidra is available in two forms.
It should be used shortly before a meal and in conjunction with a regimen that includes an intermediate or long-acting insulin or basal insulin analogue. It can be used with oral hypoglycaemic agents.
December 2005 : Don't scratch it, patch it
"Don't scratch it, patch it" is the message to patients with eczema from Medlock Medical. It recommends patch wrapping as an eczema management system using its Tubifast bandages and Epaderm.
It works in the same way as wet or dry wrapping with a tubular bandage over an emollient layer to keep skin moist and reduce inflammation. Patch wrapping is used to treat areas of skin with atopic eczema flare-ups and is aimed at older children and teenagers.
December 2005: Tamiflu lowers death risk in flu
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) significantly reduces the risk of flu-related complications and death in patients, researchers announced at a conference last mouth. Data show patients treated with oseltamivir had a 67 per cent reduction in secondary complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis and sinusitis.
December 2005: Men with epilepsy suffer too
A survey from Epilepsy Action has revealed that epilepsy affects the quality of life of men with the condition more than previously thought. Its findings reveal epilepsy and its treatment can extend into most areas of a sufferer's life, including relationships, parenting, sexual function, self esteem, driving and employment. About half of respondents said their epilepsy and its treatment affects their relationship with their partner, other family members and friends.
To coincide with launch of the results, Epilepsy Action has published a booklet, Epilepsy and men. www.epilepsy.org.uk
December 2005: Largest HRT study
Women who take HRT are at increased risk of death from breast cancer compared with women who have never taken HRT. This is the finding of the largest ever study into breast cancer, involving over one million women ( www.millionwomenstudy.org.uk ).
The landmark UK study, funded by Cancer Research ( www.cancerhelp.org.uk ), the NHS Breast Screening Programme and the Medical Research Council, which is published in the Lancet ( www.lancet.com ) and responded to by the Committe on Safety of Medicines (CSM), www.mhra.gov.uk .
December 2005: Aspirin to treat cancer
Aspirin could be useful in treating certain types of cancer.
In the journal Nature, scientists from Cancer Research UK say that the drug could be effective against cancers involving local inflammation, such as turban tumour syndrome ( tts - a rare, inherited skin cancer where tumours grow out of the body ).
Professor Alan Ashworth, from the Institute of cancer Research, says: "It's important that we put the theory to test in patients as soon as we can. In the case of 'tts', we think anti-inflammatory drugs could be rubbed into tumours in gel form in order to shrink them, or perhaps given to younger patients before they have begun to show signs of the disease as a preventative measure. We know inflammation can play a role in the development of a number of other cancers too, so it could be that aspirin will find a range of uses as a cancer treatment." ( www.nature.com )
November 2005: Seven Seas has launched Probain.
A supplement combining 700mg pure fish oil (containing omega-3 fatty acids) with 120mg ginkgo biloba. It is targeted, says the company, at health conscious adults who want to maintain healthy brain function and a sharp mind as they get older.
November 2005: A new VMS range into pharmacy.
Principle Healthcare is introducing a new VMS range into pharmacy. Under the Principle brand name is Children's Omega 3 Fruit Explosions, Glucose Granules, and Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules. The Principle Extra Benefit range comprises Active Mind and Joint Care; Optimum Oil Omega 3, 6 and 9; Glucosamine Gel; Glucosamine and Chondroitin.
November 2005: Glucosamine significantly reduces the pain of arthritic joints.
Two long-awaited clinical trials on glucosamine have found the shell-fish derived substance to significantly reduce the pain of arthritic joints and it may be better than a commonly used painkiller in Europe. In one of the trials, the Glucosamine Unum in Die Efficacy (GUIDE) trial compared a daily dose of 1500mg of glucosamine sulphate and 3000mg of the drug Celebrex (celecoxib) to a placebo in 318 patients.
November 2005: New sugar alternative kicks sweeteners in touch.
Xylitol, a new natural sweetener with added health benefits, is being launched for the first time as a product in its own right under the name Perfect Sweet. Positioned as the perfect sugar alternative for everyday use, Xylitol is found naturally in strawberries, plums and pears and while it looks and tastes just like sugar, it contains just one third fewer calories. Xylitol releases its energy much slower than any other sugar or sweetener, meaning it has a GI value of just 7, making it ideal for those on GI diets or diabetics. This slow release of energy means those using it feel fuller for longer and are less likely to snack. A study at Leeds University showing that those eating yoghurt containing xylitol for breakfast ate 10% less lunch than those eating ordinary yoghurts.
November 2005: PMS benefits claimed for Krill Oil.
A recently published double-blind, controlled, randamised trial on 70 women showed that Krill Oil dramatically improved all emotional PMS symptoms including feeling overwhelmed, anxiety, stress, irritablility and depression. After 45 and 90 days the NKOTM Krill Oil group on 2g per day, had statistically significant differences in both emotional and physical symptoms including breast tenderness, joint pain dysmenorrhea. the fish oil group after 90 days only had statistically significant reduction in weight gain, swelling and abdominal pain.
October 2005: Research opportunities in the East.
Both China and india are making it easier and more attractive for foreign companies to outsorurce drug research and development, says a leading consulting firm. Frost & Sullivan which works with 1000 global firms, say both countries have taken steps to make it easier for foreign firms to work with local ones in drug development and research. In both, overall research standards are being internationalised and the governments are relaxing regulations around the pharmaceutical industry. Frost & Sullivan industry analyst Himanshu Parmer says, "Contract research organisations are a popular option and carry out medical and scientific studies on a contractual basis for multiple clients. they provide part, or all of the processes of clinical research including trial management, data management, statistical analysis, protocol design and final report development."
October 2005: New start now.
Barry Andrews, chairman of the PSNC, the man at the centre of negotiations of the new contracts, says, "There is no doubt that pharmacy will face many changes in the future. Policy-makers will incresingly look to pharmacy as a means of delivering health policy." The association said that it had handled most of the issues, except those of a complex financial nature, where help from outside has been sourced.
October 2005: Colon cancer drug.
Patients with advanced colorectal cancer can get prescriptions for a special chemotherapy treatment following new National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidance. Pfizer has welcomed the advice on its Campto Iirinotecan) which should be used in combination with 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid (5FU/FA), as a standard 1st-line therapy for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. the company says colorectal oncologist have been pushing for the treatment's recognition. Colon Cancer Concern spokesman Ian Beaumont said, "This verdict is very significant for patients: it enables many people affected by the disease to live longer and have a greater choice in terms of the treatments that are right for them."
October 2005: Guinea pigs vital.
Animal testing, especially those using guinea pigs, is a significant part of medical research, says the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (APBI). "Guinea pigs have provided essential information to support biomedical research into respiratory disease resulting in real breakthroughs," said Dr Philip Wright, APBI's director. He made the comments after the family running the Darley Oaks Farm, which breeds guinea pigs for medical research, decided to shut down partly because of the harrassment from animal rights groups.
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