About healt

The March issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association features research studies focusing on eating habits of consumers at all stages of the life cycle, from children and adolescents to middle-aged and elderly adults.





Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among U.S. Children





Children and adolescents aren’t meeting guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption, according to researchers at Ohio State University.





The researchers analyzed results of the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to assess the amounts of fruits and vegetables consumed by children and adolescents compared to Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations, and to identify factors related to low fruit and vegetable consumption.





In a study of more than 6,500 children ages 2 to 18, the researchers found those not meeting recommendations tended to be male, older and living in households making between 130 percent and 350 percent of the federal poverty level.





The researchers found 2-to-5 year-olds consumed significantly more fruit and juice than children ages 6 to 11 and 12 to 18 year olds. Total vegetable consumption was significantly higher among 12-to-18 year-olds. However, only 8 percent of vegetables consumed by children in all groups were dark green or orange; fried potatoes constituted about 46 percent of total vegetable consumption.





The study also found fruit consumption differed significantly among race, ethnicities and household income. Mexican Americans consumed significantly more fruit than non-Hispanic white children and adolescents. In addition, non-Hispanic black children and adolescents consumed significantly more dark-green vegetables and fewer deep-yellow vegetables than Mexican American and non-Hispanic white children and adolescents.





The researchers concluded: “These children and adolescents should be targeted for nutritional interventions focusing on amounts and types of fruits and vegetables to consume. Nevertheless, there is a common need among American children and adolescents for nutritional interventions designed to increase daily fruit and vegetable consumption. When counseling children, adolescents and their parents/caregivers, dietitians need to address factors that may influence fruit and vegetable intake, such as gender, age, race/ethnicity and income.”





Other studies published in the March 2009 Journal of the American Dietetic Association include:

• Effects of Food Form and Timing of Ingestion on Appetite and Energy Intake in Lean and Obese Young Adults
  
  
  
  
  
• Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Its Relation to Markers of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Adolescents
  
  
  
  
  
• Supplement Use Contributes to Meeting Recommended Dietary Intakes for Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin C in Four Ethnicities of Middle-Aged and Older Americans: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
  
  
  
  
  
• Weight Bias among Dietetics Students: Implications for Treatment Practices.

Notes:





The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition and dietetics. Conclusions of research studies do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the American Dietetic Association, and ADA does not assume responsibility for opinions expressed by authors of Journal articles.





The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the American Dietetic Association at http://www.eatright.org/.





Source: Jennifer Starkey


American Dietetic Association

[Via http://www.medicalnewstoday.com]

• Canadian Web Hosting donates $5,000 to Union Gospel Mission
• Even Dieticians May Have Negative Attitudes Toward The Obese

Universal childhood vaccination against
meningococcal C appears to reduce Canadian incidence of the most deadly strain of
bacterial meningitis, reports new research published in the March issue of The Pediatric
Infectious Disease Journal.

The Men C vaccine was introduced as part of universal immunization programs for
children in Quebec and Alberta in 2002 and in British Columbia and Prince Edward
Island in 2003.





By 2005, all Canadian provinces included Men C vaccine as part of routine childhood
vaccinations. Staggered implementation across Canada offered researchers the
opportunity to evaluate the universal vaccination program.





“There was a dramatic decline in provinces with the early immunization program,
suggesting the program works,” says Dr. Julie Bettinger, the study’s lead author.
Dr. Bettinger is a scientist in the Vaccine Evaluation Centre at the Child & Family
Research Institute and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University
of British Columbia.





Prior to Men C universal vaccination, BC, Alberta, and Quebec had rates of
meningococcal C disease that were nearly 4.5 times higher than the rest of Canada. The
study reports that today these provinces have the lowest rates in Canada, from 0.41 cases
per 100,000 people in 2002 down to 0.07 per 100,000 in 2006. The provinces with later
introduction of universal Men C vaccination showed no major changes in the one year of
follow up study, with annual rates of meningococcal C at 0.08 per 100,000 people in
2006.





“The numbers may seem small, but even one case of the disease is one too many,” says
Dr. Bettinger. “It can strike without warning and cause death or permanent physical or
neurological disability. Because meningococcal infection is spread by saliva through
coughing, sneezing, and kissing, it has the potential to become an epidemic. Universal
vaccination is critical to control disease and prevent epidemics.”





Meningitis is an infection of the lining that covers the brain and spinal cord. It can be
caused by viruses and bacteria. The viral causes of meningitis are rarely life-threatening
whereas the bacterial types are more deadly. There are five strains of meningitis caused
by the meningococcal bacteria (called serogroups A, B, C, Y, and W135). Meningococcal
vaccines protect against A, C, Y, W135 with the Men C public vaccination programs
targeting the meningococcal C bacteria. The researchers did not observe significant changes in the rates of other strains causing meningitis following introduction of the
meningococcal C vaccination program.





Infection with the meningococcal bacteria develops suddenly into a medical emergency
that must be treated in hospital with IV antibiotics. Initial symptoms include fever,
headache, stiff neck, vomiting, and drowsiness while in infants it may show as irritability
and lethargy. It can cause gangrene leading to amputation of limbs, blindness, deafness,
brain damage, and cognitive and neurological disability. Children, adolescents, and
immuno-compromised individuals are most vulnerable to infection.





Meningococcal C is the most fatal strain of bacterial meningitis. It infects approximately
250 Canadian children and adults each year, according to the BC Centre for Disease
Control. For every 100 children who get sick, up to 15 will die. Those who survive may
face life-long disability.





The Men C vaccine is provided free to all children in BC along with the regular childhood
vaccinations. Infants need two doses: one needle at two months of age and then another at
12 months. The vaccine is also provided to people who may be vulnerable because they
are missing a spleen, they have a weak immune system, are transplant recipients, or they
have a cochlear (inner ear) implant.





The Men C vaccine is the first product suitable for infants offering long-term immunity
against meningococcal C and it became commercially available in 2001. Previously,
adolescents or adults received a different vaccine which provided protection for about
three years.





For the study, the 12 pediatric centres involved with the Canadian Immunization
Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT), carried out surveillance in collaboration with
local public health officials. IMPACT meningococcal surveillance is administered by the
Canadian Paediatric Society and funded by Sanofi Pasteur. Its surveillance centres are
located in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan,
Alberta, and BC.





“What’s needed next is a vaccine against meningococcal B,” says Dr. Bettinger. “This is
the Holy Grail of vaccine research.”




Notes:





The Child & Family Research Institute (CFRI) conducts discovery research, clinical
investigation, and applied health research to benefit the health of children and families. It
is the largest research institute of its kind in Western Canada. CFRI works in close
partnership with BC Children’s Hospital and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, and
BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, agencies of the Provincial Health Services
Authority; BC Children’s Hospital Foundation; the University of British Columbia and
Simon Fraser University. For more information, visit http://www.cfri.ca/.





Source: Jennifer Kohm


Child & Family Research Institute

[Via http://www.medicalnewstoday.com]

• How to check how competitive your keyphrases are Posted By : Jack Mack
• New, Liquid Glucosamine Works Even Better to Provide Temporary Relief from Arthritic Pain, Stiffness and Inflammation

WorldCare Clinical, LLC (WCC), a leading imaging CRO for clinical trials in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries, today introduced a new service offering to support sponsors conducting early-stage and Phase II clinical trials. WCC’s new Collect, Ready, Hold service saves sponsors time and money by allowing imaging data to be collected and standardized according to the imaging protocol and then held in a single, secure database until a central review of the data is requested.




WCC’s new Collect, Ready, Hold service builds upon the company’s extensive operational and regulatory expertise and employs its patent-pending WorldPro™ image management technology to acquire and prepare imaging data and store it all in a single, secure database. This gives sponsors complete control of the images acquired and helps them respond to the FDA or other regulatory agencies, streamlining review processes if needed. It also reduces time and site management costs by preventing sponsors from having to go back and collect images if a central review is requested at a later date. WCC’s WorldPro technology is also manufacturer-agnostic, meaning that DICOM images can be pushed to any CRO a sponsor chooses. This flexibility allows sponsors to use WCC to manage any or all portions of their trial as needed.




“Sponsors conducting Phase II trials many times either don’t have the funding in place or have yet to receive a request from the FDA to conduct a central review of their imaging data,” said Richard Walovitch, WCC’s chief medical officer. “Collect, Ready, Hold was developed in response to these challenges as a cost-effective and preemptive approach for sponsors to collect, QC and store images in a central database until it is determined if a central review of the imaging data is required. This process not only eliminates monthly management fees, but also decreases the time required to provide data to the FDA. Sponsors also receive the added benefit of working with a proven, patent-pending technology system already supporting a multitude of trials.”




The new service offering consists of the following:




– Collect: WCC writes the image acquisition protocol, identifies and
qualifies sites, and standardizes the image acquisition collection;





– Ready: WCC performs administrative and technical QC of the images
submitted from sponsor study sites and resolves any issues identified;





– Hold: WCC holds the images in a database until it is determined if a
central review of the imaging data is required.

For more information about WCC’s Collect, Ready, Hold capabilities, visit: http://tinyurl.com/WCCCRH.



About WorldCare Clinical




WorldCare Clinical (WCC) is a leading imaging CRO for clinical trials in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. With a seventeen year heritage specializing in imaging, WCC has processed more than 1 million images and enrolled 4,000 sites in over 50 countries. Combining extensive medical, operational and image management expertise, WCC offers support for every facet of an imaging clinical trial. From complete trial management and archiving to select services such as study design, Imaging Charter development, and the creation of an imaging library, WCC works with sponsors to meet any combination of clinical imaging needs. For more information, visit http://www.wcclinical.com.



WorldCare Clinical

[Via http://www.medicalnewstoday.com]

• CIRM Completes Briefing Visit to Stemedica Cell Technologies
• The Blog Erotic Gives Sex a Good Name

The Health Protection Agency continues to work closely with local and national veterinary colleagues following the announcement yesterday by the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) that avian influenza had been found in poultry on two premises in the East of England.

Defra has today confirmed that the avian influenza virus present there is H6N1. The H6 virus type has been isolated in domestic poultry and wild birds in Europe over the last few years.

The finding has not affected the HPA’s precautionary advice in this incident. We have advised that staff should use high levels of personal protective equipment to protect them from infection.
The Agency is monitoring the health of those exposed to the poultry and there continues to be no reports of any flu-like illness in this group, who have also been offered seasonal influenza vaccine, as a further precaution. GPs in Norfolk and Suffolk are also being made aware of the investigation, for information.




Avian influenza, or ‘bird flu’, is a contagious disease of birds caused by viruses that normally only infects wild birds and, rarely, other species including domestic poultry. There is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.




Dr Joe Kearney, Regional Director of the HPA in the East of England said: “The current level of risk to humans from avian flu is extremely low, and today’s news from Defra does not change that. To date there has been no evidence that current avian influenza viruses have adapted to spread easily in humans.”



Notes




There have been no cases linked to the consumption of properly cooked meat and eggs; for further guidance go to: http://www.food.gov.uk

Further information on avian influenza can be found at the HPA website.

Further information on avian flu in poultry is available on the DEFRA website: http://www.defra.gov.uk.



Health Protection Agency

[Via http://www.medicalnewstoday.com]

• Common Approaches to Member Retention by Health Insurance Plans are Ineffective, New Study Shows
• Roswell Park Cancer Institute Receives $2.2 Million Grant To Examine Mechanisms Of Acute Inflammation

As the nation marks National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month this March, the American Cancer Society is encouraging Americans to get lifesaving screening tests that have been proven to reduce the risk of the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.




According to the recent Annual Report to the Nation on cancer (sponsored in part by the American Cancer Society), progress continues to be made in the fight against colorectal cancer (commonly referred to as colon cancer), with incidence and mortality rates continuing to experience a steady decline due in part to an increase in screening. From 1998 to 2005, colon cancer incidence dropped by 2.8% per year in men and 2.2% per year in women. Deaths rates have fallen by 4.3% in both men and women from 2002 to 2005. The American Cancer Society recommends routine screening for men and women starting at age 50, and earlier testing for those at higher than average risk. Regularly scheduled screening can not only detect cancer at an early and more treatable stage, but can also prevent cancer from developing by removing precancerous polyps before they become cancerous.




Despite evidence showing colorectal screening can save lives and the availability of several options for patients, only about half of the U.S. population aged 50 and older has been tested recently for colon cancer. Among those who have not been screened for colon cancer, reasons include lack of access to affordable care, and that clinicians are not recommending screening when they should. Other barriers include lack of knowledge of the importance of screening, of the treatability of colon cancer when detected early, and of available testing options. Screening is critical as more than half of all colon cancer deaths could be prevented if everyone who should get screened did so.




“Colon cancer is one of the only cancers that can be prevented through regular testing” said Durado D. Brooks, M.D., director of prostate and colorectal cancer, American Cancer Society. “The declines in incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer can be attributed to prevention and early detection of the disease through screening, as well as increasingly effective treatment.”




In March 2008, the American Cancer Society, along with the American College of Radiology and the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer released the first-ever consensus guidelines for colorectal screening. The guidelines now include two new tests – stool DNA and CT colonography, also known as virtual colonoscopy. The guidelines also for the first time indicate a preference for screening tests that can not only detect cancer early but also detect precancerous polyps before they turn cancerous.




One major barrier to colon cancer screening is a lack of health insurance. Many studies show that people who are uninsured are substantially less likely to be screened for colon cancer – while nearly half (48.3 percent) of men and women ages 50 to 64 with private insurance had a recommended colon cancer screening test in the past 10 years, only one in five (18.8 percent) of those who lacked insurance had received recommended screening. In addition, insurance status strongly influences survival among those diagnosed with colon cancer – individuals with private insurance who are diagnosed with Stage II colon cancer have better survival outcomes than individuals who are uninsured or receive Medicaid and are diagnosed with Stage I.




The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, is working to pass the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act. This legislation establishes a program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that would provide vital colon cancer screenings, treatment and follow-up services to low-income, uninsured and underinsured men and women ages 50 to 64. Additionally, this program will support training for health providers based on research that has shown physician recommendation is a critical factor for patients in deciding to get screening tests, and will support public information and education programs for the prevention and detection of colon cancer and promoting the benefits of cancer screenings targeted both at the general public and medically underserved populations.




A number of lifestyle factors impact colon cancer risk. Studies indicate that men and women who are overweight are more likely to develop and die from colon cancer, and a diet high in red or processed meat is known to increase risk of developing the disease. Studies also show that high levels of physical activity may cut the risk of colon cancer in half. The American Cancer Society recommends engaging in moderate activity for at least 30 minutes on five or more days per week and substituting high consumption of red and processed meat with a healthy diet rich in plant sources, whole grains, and five or more servings of fruits and vegetables.




Age remains the most important risk factor for colon cancer. Risk increases with age, with more than 90 percent of cases diagnosed in individuals aged 50 and older. A personal or family history of the disease also increases risk. An estimated 148,810 cases of colorectal cancer were expected to occur in 2008, and 49,960 deaths were also expected.



The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit http://www.cancer.org.




American Cancer Society

[Via http://www.medicalnewstoday.com]

• Pixavi Releases Recession Proof Technology
• Global Cancer Prevention Report Comment

Cell Genesys, Inc. (NASDAQ:CEGE) announced today results from further analyses of VITAL-1, the Company’s recently terminated Phase 3 clinical trial which compared GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer to Taxotere® (docetaxel) chemotherapy plus prednisone and enrolled 626 advanced prostate cancer patients with asymptomatic castrate-resistant metastatic disease. VITAL-1 was terminated in October 2008 based on the results of a futility analysis conducted at the Company’s request by the study’s Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) which indicated that the trial had less than a 30 percent chance of meeting its predefined primary endpoint of an improvement in overall survival. However, the final Kaplan-Meier survival curves for the two treatment arms suggest a late favorable effect of GVAX immunotherapy on patient survival compared to chemotherapy, with the curve for GVAX patients crossing above the chemotherapy curve at approximately the same time median survival was reached in both treatment arms (21 months). Additionally, the data suggest that patients with Halabi predicted survival (HPS) greater than or equal to 18 months may have a more favorable response to the immunotherapy. Treatment with GVAX immunotherapy was generally well-tolerated and had a very favorable side-effect profile compared to Taxotere chemotherapy particularly with respect to a lower frequency of grade 3 or higher toxicity of nine percent versus 43 percent. These results will be presented today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Genitourinary Cancer Symposium being held in Orlando, Florida. The abstract, #LBA150, can be found at http://www.asco.org.




“We believe that the further analyses of the VITAL-1 trial presented today indicate that GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer has clinical activity and a favorable safety profile compared to Taxotere chemotherapy, the standard of care for men with advanced prostate cancer,” stated Stephen A. Sherwin, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Cell Genesys. “While we and our investigators were very disappointed with the failure of the trial to meet its primary endpoint of improvement in survival, we sincerely hope that we have contributed to a better understanding of how to best evaluate immunotherapy treatments in prostate cancer, both with respect to the potential delayed benefit of immunotherapy compared to a more rapidly acting chemotherapy, as well as the need to evaluate immunotherapies in patients with more favorable prognoses. The Company has recently taken steps to facilitate further studies of GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer and related GVAX products by academic investigators.”




Earlier in the meeting, researchers also reported findings from further analyses of VITAL-2, the Company’s second Phase 3 clinical trial of GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer used in combination with Taxotere (see abstract #7 at http://www.asco.org). VITAL-2, which compared GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer in combination with Taxotere to Taxotere plus prednisone and enrolled 408 patients with symptomatic castrate-resistant metastatic prostate cancer, was prematurely terminated in August 2008 following the recommendation of the trial’s IDMC which in a routine safety meeting observed an imbalance in deaths between the two treatment arms of the study. Updated analyses show no significant toxicities in the GVAX plus Taxotere arm that could explain the imbalance in deaths. Eighty-five percent of deaths were reported as due to prostate cancer in both arms, and there was no trend in the causes of death in the remaining patients. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the decision to omit concomitant prednisone in the GVAX immunotherapy treatment arm to avoid the immunosuppressive effects of prednisone may have contributed to an unfavorable outcome compared to the combination of chemotherapy and prednisone. Additionally, it is important to note that further analyses of VITAL-2 have indicated that the imbalance in deaths between the two treatment arms has decreased from 20 deaths as reported at that the time of the IDMC’s initial analysis (August, 2008) to 9 deaths at the time of the final analysis (December, 2008).



About VITAL-1 and VITAL-2




VITAL-1 was a Phase 3 clinical trial designed to compare GVAX cancer immunotherapy as a monotherapy to Taxotere chemotherapy plus prednisone in castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients with metastatic disease who were asymptomatic with respect to cancer-related pain. The primary endpoint of the trial was an improvement in survival. In 2007, the VITAL-1 trial completed enrollment with 626 patients at 131 sites in North America and the European Union. In January 2008, Cell Genesys announced that the IDMC had completed a pre-planned interim efficacy analysis for VITAL-1 and recommended that the study continue, providing no further information to the Company other than the recommendation to continue the trial. On August 27, 2008, the Company announced that it had requested the IDMC to conduct a previously unplanned futility analysis of VITAL-1. Based on the results of that analysis, the Company terminated the VITAL-1 trial in October 2008. VITAL-2 was a Phase 3 trial designed to compare GVAX immunotherapy in combination with Taxotere to Taxotere plus prednisone in CRPC patients with metastatic disease who were symptomatic with respect to cancer-related pain. The primary endpoint of the trial was also improvement in survival. VITAL-2 was initiated in June 2005 and had enrolled 408 patients at 115 clinical trial sites located in North America and the European Union prior to study termination. On August 27, 2008, the Company announced its decision to terminate enrollment and treatment with GVAX immunotherapy in VITAL-2 as recommended by its IDMC which, in a routine safety review meeting held at that time to review both VITAL-1 and VITAL-2, observed an imbalance in deaths between the two treatment arms of the VITAL-2 study.



About GVAX Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer




GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer is comprised of two prostate tumor cell lines that have been modified to secrete GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor), an immune stimulatory cytokine that plays a key role in stimulating the body’s immune response, and then irradiated for safety. GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer is designed to be administered through intradermal injections on an outpatient basis.



About Cell Genesys




Cell Genesys is a biotechnology company that was focused on the development and commercialization of novel biological therapies for patients with cancer. Following the termination of the Phase 3 trials of GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer, the Company’s lead product program, the Company implemented a substantial restructuring plan in October, 2008, and is currently evaluating strategic alternatives for the business. Cell Genesys is headquartered in Hayward,, California. For additional information, please visit the company’s website at http://www.cellgenesys.com.




Statements made herein about the company, other than statements of historical fact, including statements about the progress, results, findings and timing of the company’s clinical trials and preclinical programs, are forward-looking statements and are subject to a number of uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including risks and uncertainties associated with the timing of the termination of VITAL-1 and the premature termination of VITAL-2, the timing of the further analyses of VITAL-2 and VITAL-2, the success of clinical trials and research and development programs generally, the regulatory approval process for clinical trials, and competitive technologies and products, and other risks. For information about these and other risks which may affect Cell Genesys, please see the company’s reports on Form 10-Q, 10-K, and 8-K and other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information in this press release.



ASCO

[Via http://www.medicalnewstoday.com]

• Stem Cell Breakthrough: Pluripotency Without Using Viruses
• For Post-Burn Itching Burn Rehabilitation Experts Outline Best Treatments

The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF)-supporting research and providing education, advocacy and support for myeloma patients, families, researchers and physicians congratulated its co-founder and chairman, Brian G.M. Durie, M.D., as the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Waldenström’s Award for lifetime achievement. The award, named for Prof. Jan Waldenström, a pioneer in treating blood cancers, was presented at the opening of the XII International Myeloma Workshop in Washington, D.C.




In accepting the honor, Dr. Durie noted: “When I published my first paper on myeloma in 1975, there was little that could be done to extend survival. As I wrote in the Journal of Clinical Oncology last October, results have improved dramatically with the novel agents available today, such as Thalomid®, Velcade® and Revlimid®. Overall survival expectations have essentially doubled with the introduction of these agents.




“Today our mission is to continue this progress, to expand access to these medical advances to all who need it, and to support and encourage innovation in research and drug development so this momentum continues. I’m deeply honored that the contributions I’ve made in the field of myeloma have been recognized by my peers.”




In addition to his leadership role with the IMF, Dr. Durie is a practicing hematologist/oncologist. He is national director for hematological malignancies at Aptium Oncology, and myeloma specialist at Cedars-Sinai Outpatient Cancer Center. Dr. Durie chairs three major research groups — the Myeloma Network for Aptium Oncology, the IMF’s International Myeloma Working Group and the Myeloma Committee (Co-Chair) for the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG).




Dr. Durie has received numerous congratulations from his colleagues in the myeloma research community. S. Vincent Rajkumar, M.D., Mayo Clinic, said, “Dr. Durie’s contributions to the myeloma field are too numerous to list. Besides his many major research contributions such as the development of the initial staging system for the disease, he has been a vigorous advocate for myeloma patients worldwide as the leader of the International Myeloma Foundation. As leader of the International Myeloma Working Group he has established enduring standards for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of the disease.”




Fellow myeloma researcher Sundar Jagannath, M.D., St. Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, said, “Dr. Durie’s vast experience and dedication to continuing myeloma research make him one of the most respected myeloma experts in the world, and his research efforts provide invaluable resources for physicians, patients and caregivers who are confronted with this disease.”




Other notes of congratulations include:




“Dr. Durie’s medical achievements alone would be enough for a lifetime. I am proud that he also helped found the IMF and works with us to make sure patients are aware of the progress being made so they can take advantage of the new approaches to treatment.” Susie Novis, IMF co-founder and president.




“I am pleased to be collaborating with Dr. Durie to look for the reasons myeloma comes out of remission. Only in this way will we find a cure.” Luc Montagnier, M.D., co-recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize in medicine.




Myeloma, also called multiple myeloma, is a cancer of cells in the bone marrow that affect production of blood cells and can damage bone. Myeloma affects an estimated 750,000 people worldwide, and in industrialized countries it is being diagnosed in growing numbers and in increasingly younger people.



About The International Myeloma Foundation




The International Myeloma Foundation is the oldest and largest myeloma organization, reaching more than 185,000 members in 113 countries worldwide. A 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of myeloma patients and their families, the IMF focuses in four key areas: research, education, support, and advocacy. To date, the IMF has conducted more than 200 educational seminars worldwide, maintains a world-renowned hotline, and operates Bank on a Cure®, a unique gene bank to advance myeloma research. The IMF can be reached at (800) 452-CURE. The global Website is http://www.myeloma.org.



The International Myeloma Foundation

[Via http://www.medicalnewstoday.com]

• Brain Tumor Research Center A Lasting Legacy At Barrow
• Obese Children Should Have Gastric Bands To Manage Diabetes Says UK Expert

Wyeth announced today that its 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine,
Prevenar(TM) (Pneumococcal saccharide conjugated vaccine, Adsorbed), has been
registered by the Russian Ministry of Health and Social Development
(Roszdravnadzor) and is expected to be commercially available later this
year. Prevenar (also referred to as PCV7), the global standard in
pneumococcal disease prevention for infants and young children, helps protect
against the seven pneumococcal serotypes contained in the vaccine that cause
the majority of pneumococcal disease worldwide.



“This important decision by Roszdravnadzor to register Prevenar is an
important step forward in helping to protect the more than 1.5 million
Russian children born every year from the potentially serious consequences of
pneumococcal disease,” says Dr. E. David McIntosh, paediatrician and Wyeth’s
Medical Director for Infectious Disease and Vaccines in Europe, the Middle
East and Africa. “Given the public health benefits that have been documented
where Prevenar is routinely used, Wyeth looks forward to engaging in
discussions with the Ministry of Health with a view toward including Prevenar
in the national childhood immunisation schedule in Russia.”



According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pneumococcal disease
causes up to 1 million deaths in children each year and is the leading
vaccine-preventable cause of death in children younger than five years of age
worldwide.



The WHO recommends priority inclusion of PCV7 in national
childhood immunisation programs worldwide due to the significant burden of
pneumococcal disease and demonstrated vaccine efficacy.



Following inclusion of Prevenar into the routine U.S. paediatric
immunization schedule, there has been a 98 percent (95% CI: 97-99) reduction
in vaccine-type pneumococcal disease among infants and toddlers younger than
5 years of age compared with a prelicensure baseline. In addition, incidence
of disease caused by the seven conjugate vaccine serotypes declined 55
percent (95% CI: 51-58) among adults 50 years of age and older, an
unvaccinated group.



Prevenar is now available in more than 90 countries around the world, and
34 of those countries include Prevenar in their national childhood
immunisation programme.



Pneumococcal Disease




Pneumococcal disease affects both children and adults and is a leading
cause of illness and death worldwide. Pneumococcal disease is caused by the
bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and describes a group of illnesses,
including invasive infections, such as bacteremia/sepsis and meningitis, as
well as pneumonia and otitis media.



Wyeth




Wyeth is one of the world’s largest research-driven pharmaceutical and
health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development,
manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology
products, nutritionals and non-prescription medicines that improve the
quality of life for people worldwide. The Company’s major divisions include
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal
Health.
 



Wyeth

[Via http://www.medicalnewstoday.com]

• FDA Meeting on Opioid REMS Highlights the Need for Comprehensive, Integrated Risk Management
• Washington Post Examines How Retiree Health Benefits Affect Automakers

March has officially been declared Red Cross Month by order of a Presidential Proclamation signed by President Barack Obama today, marking the 66th time the month of March has been celebrated in honor of the organization.




The proclamation reads, in part:




The Red Cross has continued to serve those suffering from large- and small-scale disasters. The organization is best known for its work helping communities deal with major disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. These large-scale disasters represent a major part of the work of the American Red Cross. Just as important are the tens of thousands of small-scale disasters that occur every day in communities nationwide, and the volunteers who respond to them. These efforts include supporting our military and their families, collecting and distributing blood, helping the needy, delivering health and safety education, and providing aid abroad.

March has been known as Red Cross Month across the country since 1943, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued the declaration in support of Red Cross efforts to raise funds for World War II services.




In honor of Red Cross Month, the Red Cross will launch the first-ever national Change a Life contest. The contest will run from March 2-16, 2009. The public is invited to visit RedCross.org and tell us how a Red Cross experience changed their life or someone else’s life. The grand prize winner will win a two-night trip for two to Washington D.C. to join Keith Urban and his band on August 20th as they play their Escape Together World Tour concert. The package includes backstage passes and a tour of the National American Red Cross Disaster Operations Center. The second place winner will receive a 52″ Philips HD LCD television, DVD player and a library of Red Cross preparedness and safety DVDs.



About the American Red Cross




The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation’s blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit http://www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://www.redcrosschat.org.



American Red Cross

[Via http://www.medicalnewstoday.com]

• The Blog Erotic Gives Sex a Good Name
• CIRM Completes Briefing Visit to Stemedica Cell Technologies

Today, registered nurses are gathering in Center City Philadelphia to learn about the details of a sweeping patient safety bill just introduced into the Pennsylvania State Senate. The Pennsylvania Hospital Patient Protection Act of 2009, introduced by Senator Daylin Leach (D-17), would save the lives of countless Pennsylvania patients by requiring hospitals to abide by mandated, safe RN-to-patient ratios on all units at all times, as well as provide for genuine whistle-blower for RNs who report unsafe care conditions.




The bill is mirrored on a highly successful California law that has brought more RNs into the workforce. Since the law was enacted, the number of active RNs in California has grown by nearly 100,000, with a yearly increase that is triple the number before the law.




“In California, with ratios, RNs now have the support and time they need to provide higher quality care,” said Hedy Dumpel, RN, JD, National Director of Nursing Practice and Patient Advocacy for the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee “We have ratios for schoolteachers and prison guards, and specific standards for clean air and water. Why not in our hospitals?”




The Pennsylvania RN ratios would require minimum ratios by unit, with increased staffing when needed based on the severity of patient illness. Research has shown the need for such an approach. One study found that cutting ratios to one RN per four patients could save 72,000 lives nationally, (The American Journal of Public Health, August 2005) while another found that up to 22,000 American lives are lost each year due to unsafe ratios. (Journal of the American Medical Association, October 22, 2002). Other studies have linked everything from the rise of staphylococcus infections to the spread of pneumonia to unsafe ratios for direct-care RNs.




“Pennsylvania’s nursing shortage is getting worse by the year,” said Senator Leach. “This law will guarantee patients safer care while creating conditions in our hospitals that will help retain and recruit RNs. Ratios reduce costly medical errors, hospital infections, and the significant expense of replacing the increasing numbers of RNs who leave the bedside due to unsafe staffing conditions.”




An increase of one patient per RN leads to a 23percent increase in burnout and 15percent increase in job dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, the cost to replace an RN is about $42,000 for each general medical/surgical unit RN, and $64,000 to replace each specialty RN. (The Journal of the American Medical Association, October 23/30, 2002.)




“Safe staffing is our most pressing issue. While we’re ahead on the issue because we have a union, staffing issues hurt the whole profession,” said Rose Szybka, RN, who works at Butler Memorial Hospital in Butler, PA. “Safe staffing legislation is necessary before more harm is done to patients, and more RNs leave the profession.”




“Now that the facts have been established that California’s safe staffing bill has helped reverse the nursing shortage in California, Pennsylvanians should have to wait no more,” said Teri Evans, RN, who works at Crozer Chester Medical Center. “What has been won in California should be won in Pennsylvania for the sake of safe patient care.”




A similar RN -to-patient ratio bill, House Bill 147, has already been introduced in the Pennsylvania House by Representative Tim Solobay (D-48).




PASNAP represent 5000 nurses and healthcare professionals throughout Pennsylvania. The National Nurses Organizing Committee, founded by the California Nurses Association in 2004, today represents 85,000 RNs in 50 states, making it the largest and fastest-growing association of direct-care RNs in the nation.




For more information, visit http://www.pennanurses.org



About the Proposed Safe Staffing Ratio Law




- Establishes minimum direct care registered RN-to-patient staffing ratios in all acute-care hospitals.


- Requires hospitals to “staff-up” from the ratios, based on individual patient acuity as set forth by a patient classification system created with RNs input.


- Provides whistle blower protection for RNs who report unsafe patient care conditions or refuse unsafe patient care assignments.


- Affirms the duty and right of direct care nurses to advocate and provide care in the exclusive interests of patients.



Ratios and Patient Safety




- Increasing the number of full-time RNs on staff per day by one, there were 9percent fewer hospital-related deaths in intensive care units, 16percent fewer in surgical patients, and 6percent fewer in medical patients. – Healthcare Risk Management, February 2008




- Cutting RN-to-patient ratios to 1:4 nationally could save as many as 72,000 lives annually, and is less costly than many other basic safety interventions common in hospitals, including clot-busting medications for heart attacks and PAP tests for cervical cancer. – Medical Care, Journal of the American Public Health Association, August 2005



Ratios and the Nursing Shortage




Since the passage of the nation’s first RN-to-patient ratio law in California:




- The number of actively licensed RNs in California increased by nearly 100,000 following enactment of the staffing ratio law. (CA Board of Registered Nursing).




- The number of actively licensed RNs has grown by an average of more than 10,000 a year, compared to under 3,000 a year prior to the law. (CA Board of Registered Nursing).
- There has been a 60percent increase in RN applications.



Ratios and Cost Savings




Safe RN ratios have produced cost savings for hospitals in reduced spending on temporary RNs and overtime costs, lower RN turnover, shorter patient lengths of stays, and improved patient outcomes.




- Adding 133,000 RNs to the U.S. hospital workforce would produce medical savings estimated at $6.1 billion in reduced patient care costs.-Medical Care, January 2009aising the proportion of RNs by increasing RN staffing to match the top 25 percent best staffed hospitals would produce net short-term cost savings of $242 million. – Health Affairs, January/February 2006




- Preventing medical errors reduces loss of life and could reduce healthcare costs by as much as 30 percent. Insurers paid an additional $28,218 (52 percent more) and an additional $19,480 (48 percent more) for surgery patients who experienced acute respiratory failure or post-operative infections, compared with patients who did not experience either error. The post-discharge costs savings achieved by reducing adverse events might just be enough for the hospital to break-even on the investment in nursing. – Health Services Research, July 2008



California Nurses Association

[Via http://www.medicalnewstoday.com]

• Efforts, Events Seek To Address Health Disparities Among Minorities
• Obama Administration Expected To Begin Process Of Rescinding HHS Conscience Rule