Worldwide cancer rates are set to double by 2020, a report published by the World Health Organization. Currently 10 million new cancers are diagnosed each year worldwide, but unless there is an effective prevention campaign, the number will rise to 20 million in 17 years' time, says the report. If preventive measures were adopted, that figure could be reduced by a quarter, it states. "Cancer is emerging as a major problem globally, both in more developed and in less developed countries," says the report. "Political will and international collaboration are now required for effective cancer control." Current levels of smoking and unhealthy lifestyles are the main causes. The increasing proportion of elderly people will also contribute to the rise in the number of cancer cases worldwide.
In developing countries, up to a quarter of cancers are caused by infections, including hepatitis B, which is linked to liver cancer, and the human papillomavirus, which is linked to cancer of the cervix. Tobacco consumption remains the most important avoidable cancer risk. "During the twentieth century approximately 100 million people died worldwide from tobacco-associated diseases. Half of all regular smokers are killed by the habit and one quarter die prematurely before the age of 70". WHO has endorsed global strategy giving the highest priority to cancer control measures.
How a statin drug might destroy a drug company
Cerivastatin launched by Bayer, Germany as the sixth statin in the marketplace at the end of 1997, became linked with serious myopathy, severe enough to lead to rhabdomyolysis and death, especially when given with a fibrate such as gemfibrozil to lower triglycerides. The company voluntarily withdrew the drug in the USA on Aug 8, 2001. By then, the drug had been linked to over 100 deaths from rhabdomyolysis. The rate of fatal rhabdomyolysis with cerivastatin was 16-80 times higher than for any other statin (31 deaths with cerivastatin vs 42 with all five other statins). There are about 7800 claims for compensation in the USA and about 500 in Germany. Bayer intends to fight the compensation claims vigorously. Bayer insists that it acted properly and in a timely manner when informing regulatory authorities about myopathy with cerivastatin. These drugs (statins) are highly effective in the prevention of heart attacks--indeed, some experts advocate much wider use of statins. The message following the cerivastatin disaster is of the law of unintended consequences.
Ribavarin as potential treatment for SARS
Drugmakers, the FDA and other U.S. federal agencies are putting their heads together in an attempt to stop the spread of the mysterious pneumonia-like disease called severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, that has broken out in Asia and elsewhere. ICN Pharmaceuticals says it has been contacted by several government agencies regarding the availability of its ribavirin I.V. for the possible treatment of the disease. A nebulized version of ribavirin has been used to treat Respiratory Syncytial Virus. ICN is making the I.V. version available for investigational use by physicians and health organisations that request it, a news source says.
Although the Centers for Disease Control is not sure what is causing the illness that has affected more than 2,200 people in over a dozen countries and has so far left at least 100 people dead, the agency said there are indications that it is a virus known as coronavirus. So far, the CDC and the World Health Organisation have found two antibody tests that detect an immune reaction to the coronavirus, but stress the tests are not foolproof, nor are they certain this is the virus causing the illness.
Does Aspirin have role in cancer fight?
Two landmark studies have recently come to some promising conclusions on this count. The studies, published recently in The New England Journal of Medicine, have shown that aspirin can reduce the development of colorectal polyps in people at high risk for colorectal cancer. Daily aspirin, taken for up to three years, reduced the development of polyps by 19 per cent in the participating test subjects. Though most colorectal polyps never become cancerous, most colorectal cancers trace back to a history of these benign growths found in the lining of the colon or rectum. The new studies suggest that daily aspirin may be an effective preventive measure for people who have had polyps in the past, or who have strong family histories of colorectal cancer.
Heart disease, cancer top list of most expensive medical conditions
Treating heart disease cost Americans $58 billion in 1997, making it the single most expensive item on the country's health care bill, followed by cancer, trauma, and mental disorders. In a report, researchers analyzed the cost of health care for some of the most common medical problems and came up with the top 15 costliest conditions for the 1997 calendar year. They found that although lung disorders like asthma affected the most Americans (41 million), the cost of treating lung conditions only ranked fifth on the list at $29 billion. In comparison, the 17 million people diagnosed with heart disease spent $58 billion, 9 million cancer patients spent $46 billion, 37 million who suffered a traumatic injury spent $44 billion, and 20 million with mental disorders shelled out $30 billion. Not surprising, researchers say the study found that many of the conditions in the top 15 are chronic diseases that require long-term care. Rounding out the top 15 were the following conditions (listed with their annual associated price tag and number of Americans affected):
· Diabetes, $20 billion, 10 million people
· Hypertension (high blood pressure), $18 billion, 27 million people
· Stroke-related conditions, $16 billion, 2 million people
· Osteoarthritis, $16 billion, 16 million people
· Pneumonia, $16 billion, 4 million people
· Back problems, $13 billion, 13 million people
· Kidney disease, $10 billion, 2 million people
· Endocrine disorders, $10 billion, 18 million people
· Skin disorders, $9 billion, 20 million people
· Infectious diseases, $6 billion, 16 million people
Blood pressure drug (eplerenone) treats heart failure
A new drug for high blood pressure could also help people with heart failure. A study presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting in Chicago finds that adding eplerenone to standard treatments can reduce the death rate and the number of hospital stays for people with heart failure. The study involved 6,600 people from around the world who had been diagnosed with heart failure following a recent heart attack. Half of the participants were given eplerenone along with standard heart failure drugs, while the other half got a placebo along with the standard treatment. After an average of 16 months, the people who took eplerenone were 15 percent less likely to die than the people taking a placebo, and 23 per cent less likely to be hospitalized for heart failure, the InteliHealth News Service reports. Eplerenone works by blocking the effects of a hormone (aldosterone) that the body overproduces in heart failure. The new drug appears to cause fewer side effects than older similar-acting drugs such as spironolactone do, but it can cause a similar serious spike in potassium levels, InteliHealth reports.
US FDA acts tough on risky street drug alternatives
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced enforcement actions against firms that are marketing street drug alternative products, some of which contain ephedra or other sources of ephedrine. FDA sent warning letters to eight firms because they marketed products that they claim can be used as alternatives to street drugs. The actions are the latest in a series of FDA moves designed to protect Americans from potentially serious risks of products claiming to be dietary supplements that may actually pose health risks. These street drug alternatives, however, are not dietary supplements under the legal definition, because they are not intended to be used to augment the diet, to promote health or to reduce the risk of disease. Therefore, these products cannot legally be marketed in the U.S. as dietary supplements. FDA's actions resulted primarily from the agency's active surveillance of these firms' web sites. The investigation revealed that these firms are selling their products for "recreational" purposes -- i.e., to affect the mental or psychological states of those taking the products. The products are marketed under a variety of names with labeling that claims or implies that they produce such effects as euphoria, a "high," altered consciousness, or hallucinations. " In March of 2000, FDA issued guidance for industry designed to prevent such marketing of street drug alternatives because of their potential public health risk. The guidance is available on line at www.fda.gov/cder/guidance/index.htm. Since the beginning of this year, FDA action against such street drug alternative products as "Black Beauties" and "Yellow Jackets" has resulted in the destruction of millions of dollars worth of these products.
Compiled from www By Venkatappaji Padmanabhuni
appajipv@hotmail.com