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Clinical Times: June 2007

Three new drugs mark revolution in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

The Lancet | 29 June 2007 | Musculoskeletal

Three new drugs for rheumatoid arthritis have ushered in a new era of treatment according to Austrian researchers. The findings followed a comprehensive study on the drugs rituximab, abatacept and tocilizumab and their effects as sole therapies or working in... Read more

Severe human bite wounds are 12 times more common in men

Emergency Medicine Journal 2007;24:455-458 | 29 June 2007 | Skin

Men are 12 times more likely than women to sustain severe human bite injuries for which surgery may be necessary, according to a new Irish study. Injuries are most likely to occur during brawls at weekends or public holidays and... Read more

Drinking coffee can protect against blindness-causing eyelid spasm

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry | 29 June 2007 | Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat, Nutrition

People who drink coffee are less likely to develop blepharospasm, which can leave patients effectively blind, according to research. The effect was proportional to the amount of coffee drank, with one to two cups per day are required for the... Read more

Children of smokers have five times higher levels of a nicotine toxin

Archives of Disease in Childhood | 29 June 2007 | Respiratory

Children with at least one parent who smokes have 5.5 times higher levels of cotinine, according to a new study from the UK. A mother who smokes was found to have the biggest independent effect on cotinine in the urine,... Read more

WHO helping poorer countries tackle disease

29 June 2007 | Infections & Immunology

The World Health Organization (WHO) based Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) has adopted a new strategy for strengthening and expanding research to prevent and control “infectious diseases of poverty”. The new plan addresses some of... Read more

Risks and reliable procedures when dealing with bleeding

Dr Darach Ó hIci | 22 June 2007 | Cardiovascular

With the event of percutuaneous coronary interveion (PCI) and anti-platelet therapy, life threatening ischemic complications are rare, and minimally affected by the intensity and duration of the anti-coagulation protocol. Bleeding complications have become the most commonly observed adversity of percutaneous... Read more

Pre-operative anaemia and polycythemia increase the likelihood of post-operative death

JAMA 2007;297:2481-2488 | 22 June 2007 | Cardiovascular

Older patients with mild degrees of pre-operative anaemia or polycythemia have a higher risk of post-operative death or cardiac events following major non-cardiac surgery. In a new study, doctors evaluated the prevalence of pre-operative anaemia and polycythemia and their effects... Read more

Previous military service doubles the suicide risk for men

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2007;61:619–624 | 22 June 2007 | Mental Health & CNS

Former military personnel are twice as likely to kill themselves as people who have not seen combat, according to a new US report. Researchers in the United States followed up 320,000 men aged over 18 years for 12 years and... Read more

Statins are safe and are effective even for treatment of elderly

The Lancet | 22 June 2007 | Cardiovascular

Statins are safe, tolerated and have a proven impact on cardiovascular disease for all patients including the elderly, according to a review of stain research. “No dose adjustment is recommended for elderly patients on statins, although the very elderly may... Read more

Risk of colorectal tumours not reduced by taking folic acid

JAMA 2007;297:2351-2359 | 22 June 2007 | Cancer, Gastro-intestinal

Research indicates that folic acid does not decrease the risk of benign colorectal tumors, but may possibly increase the risk for some types of colorectal tumours, according to a new study. In the study, doctors evaluated the effect of folate... Read more

Eurordis: the voice of 30 million people affected by rare diseases across Europe

Dr Mary Kearney | 22 June 2007 |

I am compelled to spread the word about help which is available for people with rare diseases after my recent visit to the Eurordis (European Organisation for Rare Diseases) annual meeting which took place in Paris recently. It is always... Read more

Combating infectious disease with probiotics

22 June 2007 | Infections & Immunology, Nutrition

UCC scientists have discovered that probiotic bacteria can protect against bacterial infection. The work carried out in the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC) in UCC was published recently in the prestigious scientific journal, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.... Read more

Men could benefit in the long-term from screening for AAA

Annals of Internal Medicine 2007;146:699-706 | 15 June 2007 | Cardiovascular

A large study conducted by UK doctors has concluded that screening ultrasonography for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is cost-effective over the long term. The study, which confirms the result of findings for short-term studies, involved ultrasonography screening for AAA in... Read more

Anti-psychotic drugs may increase death risk in elderly with dementia

Annals of Internal Medicine 2007;146:775-779 | 15 June 2007 |

A new study shows that use of antipsychotic drugs is associated with an early and sustained increase in risk of death when used to treat disruptive behavior of older adults with dementia. The researchers noted that while antipsychotic drugs are... Read more

Genetic variations may be linked to suicidal thoughts in depression

Archives of General Psychiatry 2007;64:689-697 | 15 June 2007 | Mental Health & CNS

Genetic variations may help explain why some men with depression develop suicidal thoughts and behaviors after they begin taking antidepressant medications. A study included 1,447 individuals with depression who did not express suicidal thoughts at the beginning of the study.... Read more

New EC nutrition guidelines

15 June 2007 | Nutrition

The European Commission has adopted a White Paper setting out a wide range of proposals on how the EU can tackle nutrition, overweight and obesity related health issues. It stresses the importance of enabling consumers to make informed choices, ensuring... Read more

Network of community health services

15 June 2007 | Mental Health & CNS

The World Health Organization (WHO) has signalled the urgent need for countries to provide a network of community mental health services at its Global Forum for Community Mental Health. For the first time, WHO invited people living with mental disorders... Read more

Radium-223 may be an alternative treatment for prostate cancer

Lancet Oncology | 15 June 2007 | Cancer, Men's Health, Musculoskeletal

The bone-targeting radioisotope radium-223 has delivered promising results in a randomised trial to test its efficacy in treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). According to background information supplied by the UK-led researchers, patients who have HRPC often have involvement of... Read more

New EC nutrition guidelines

15 June 2007 | Nutrition

The European Commission has adopted a White Paper setting out a wide range of proposals on how the EU can tackle nutrition, overweight and obesity related health issues. It stresses the importance of enabling consumers to make informed choices, ensuring... Read more

Network of community health services

15 June 2007 | Mental Health & CNS

The World Health Organization (WHO) has signalled the urgent need for countries to provide a network of community mental health services at its Global Forum for Community Mental Health. For the first time, WHO invited people living with mental disorders... Read more

Coenzyme Q10 does not improve Parkinson's

Archives of Neurology | 08 June 2007 | Mental Health & CNS

Small doses of the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) appear to increase blood levels of this naturally occurring compound in patients with Parkinson’s disease, but does not improve Parkinson’s disease symptoms, according to a new study. Researchers conducted a randomised clinical... Read more

Omega-3 and fish lower risk of age-related macular disease

Archives of Ophthalmology 2007;125:661-669, 671-679 | 08 June 2007 | Nutrition

Individuals who have higher dietary intake of foods with omega-3 fatty acids and higher fish consumption have a reduced risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), while those with higher serum levels of vitamin D may have a reduced risk... Read more

Testosterone gel may help men with multiple sclerosis

Archives of Neurology 2007;64:683-688 | 08 June 2007 | Men's Health, Mental Health & CNS

A small pilot study has suggested that testosterone treatment is safe, well-tolerated and may reduce symptoms, slow brain degeneration and increase muscle mass in men with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, according to a new report. Doctors investigated testosterone treatment in 10... Read more

Calcium plus vitamin D may prevent weight gain in postmenopausal women

Archives of Internal Medicine 2007;167:893-902 | 08 June 2007 | Musculoskeletal, Women's Health

Older postmenopausal women who take calcium and vitamin D supplements may gain less weight than those who do not, although the overall effect is small, according to a new report. In the study, doctors enrolled 36,282 postmenopausal women aged 50... Read more

New guidelines on HIV testing

08 June 2007 | Infections & Immunology

WHO and UNAIDS issued new guidance on informed, voluntary HIV testing and counselling in the world’s health facilities, to increase access to HIV treatment, care support and prevention services. The new guidance focuses on provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling. Today,... Read more

An egg a day is still OK

Paula Mee | 08 June 2007 | Nutrition

“Phew- great… I’m delighted to hear you recommend eating whole eggs rather than egg whites or fat-free substitutes. I’m really thrilled I can eat four to six whole eggs a week even though my cholesterol is high. I always thought... Read more

Governments are urged to act on influenza pandemic

01 June 2007 | Infections & Immunology

The World Health Assembly (WHA), the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), recently agreed on two key resolutions on Pandemic influenza preparedness and Public health, innovation and intellectual property. Countries including Ireland will be better equipped to... Read more

European experts demand immediate action on asthma

01 June 2007 | Respiratory

A leading group of medical experts and patient representatives has been told that treatment guidelines are not enough to reverse the impact of asthma. What is needed now is a "zero tolerance" approach to asthma attacks A leading group of... Read more

Getting under the skin of dermatology

Dr Ronan O’Sullivan, South Terrace Medical Centre, Cork | 01 June 2007 | Skin

Dr Ronan O’Sullivan reports on a Primary Care Dermatology Society Meeting which discussed a number of issues relating to conditions, including acne, psoriasis and eczema. The meeting, chaired by Dr Hilda O’Shea, began with a presentation by Dr Johnny Loughnane,... Read more

Experts recommend chloroquine for malaria

JAMA 2007;297:2264-2277 | 01 June 2007 | Infections & Immunology

A meta-analysis of existing studies has led malaria experts to recommend that chloroquine remain the treatment of choice for malaria. The recommendation, from experts led by Dr Kevin S Griffith of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, followed... Read more

Chronic gum disease linked to tongue cancer

Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 2007:133:450-454 | 01 June 2007 | Cancer

Men with chronic gum disease may have an increased risk of tongue cancer, regardless of whether they smoke, according to a new report. In the study, doctors compared 51 white men with tongue cancer to 54 white men without tongue... Read more

Breast MRI may be beneficial for surgical management of cancer

Archives of Surgery 2007:142:441-447 | 01 June 2007 | Cancer, Women's Health

Among women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast appears helpful in determining surgical treatment, according to a new report. In the study, doctors assessed 155 women with breast cancer newly diagnosed by... Read more

Major innovations in cancer research

01 June 2007 | Cancer

Professor John O’Leary, who is leading major research in the development of a number of new cancer treatments recently delivered his Inaugural Lecture as Chair of Pathology at TCD on Cancer: Genes, Proteins and Stemness’. “Irish scientists will make a... Read more

Untreated VTEs are killing thousands

BMJ 2007;334:1017-1019 | 01 June 2007 | Cardiovascular

More than a thousand patients may be dying in Irish hospitals each year from untreated venous thromboembolisms (VTEs), if a warning from the UK is any indication. According to leading UK experts, as many as 25,000 people there may die... Read more