Categories
Cardiovascular
Diagnostics
Endocrinology
Health Insurance
Medical Devices
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oncology
Public Health
Sexual Health
Popular Articles
Stretch Mark

World Poverty Gains Reduced, Countries Unlikely To Achieve Most MDGs, U.N. Report Says
The global economic downturn has "reversed a 20-year decline in world poverty" and could "add up to 90 million to the ranks of the hungry in 2009, an increase of six percent over current totals," according to a U.N. report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched in Geneva on Monday, Reuters reports (Evans, 7/6).
generic viagra online
Fishing Industry Contributing To Spread Of HIV Around Africa's Lake Victoria
The fishing industry and some cultural practices in communities living around Africa"s Lake Victoria are contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections in the area, according to a panel of experts at a recent meeting in Kisumu, Kenya, The Citizen reports. According to the panel, cultural practices such as widow inheritance, commercial sex work for fish and the long-distance trucking industry have led to the spread of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS prevalence among women and people who live along the beaches of the lake is particularly high, the meeting participants noted.The four-day meeting was held by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission and involved members of the East African Community and other officials. Meeting delegates were taken to cross-border control posts along the Kenya-Uganda border to interact with people living with HIV/AIDS, commercial sex workers, long-distance truck drivers and district government officials. Doreen Othero, HIV/AIDS technical specialist at the LVBC Secretariat, said that the group "managed to bring together organizations working in HIV/AIDS along transport corridors to share information, improve coordination and build synergy among the various programs so as to have maximum impact on the corridors" most at risk populations."Jean Claude Nsengiyumva, EAC deputy secretary general in charge of productive and social sectors, said that the fight against HIV/AIDS will be successful through a coordinated and collaborative effort among all stakeholders. He said that EAC has introduced a four-year Regional Multisectorial HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan, ending in 2012, that aims to address HIV/AIDS in the region. The region also is undergoing efforts to create more collaboration between regional, international and multisectorial organizations that have projects for HIV/AIDS education, care, treatment and testing. Othero said there are more than four million HIV-positive people and more than 3.5 million orphans and vulnerable children in EAC partner states (The Citizen, 5/27).
News of the day
Excellent Preclinical Data On Novel Type Of Intranasal H5N1 Influenza Vaccine
Studies performed in three animal models confirmed the safety and intensive immunogenicity of a new type of intranasal H5N1 influenza vaccine, according to the latest preclinical study data announced today by the Vienna based firm, Avir Green Hills Biotechnology. The study data was just published in PloS One, the Public Library of Science.
Oncology

Additional Phase II Data Demonstrate Improvement In Reported Symptoms In Patients Who Still Experience GERD Symptoms Despite PPI Therapy

Adding AZD3355, a novel GABAB receptor agonist, to a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), resulted in a 35% reduction in the mean total number of reflux episodes 0-24 hours after dose, compared with placebo.[i] These data were presented at the Digestive Diseases Week annual meeting (DDW®, 30 May - 4 June, Chicago). Additional data from a proof of concept study also reported that add-on treatment with AZD3355 to a PPI resulted in a higher proportion of reported symptom free days for heartburn (36 percent vs 21%) and regurgitation (37percent vs 23 percent) in patients with persistent symptoms despite daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy.[ii] The most common adverse events occurring with an incidence 牥6 percent in any group were diarrhea, paraesthesia, nausea and fatigue. ii GERD develops as a result of stomach contents refluxing into the esophagus causing troublesome symptoms and/or complications.[iii],[iv] The recommended treatment for GERD is PPI therapy. However, clinical studies have found that 20-30% of the patients still have persistent symptoms while taking a PPI.[v] Reflux symptoms occur mainly when the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) (located between the stomach and the esophagus) relaxes in the absence of swallowing, known as Transient Lower Esophageal Sphincter Relaxations (TLESRs), and causes reflux of stomach contents.[vi],[vii],[viii],[ix] As a GABAB receptor agonist, AZD3355 targets the LES to decrease reflux episodes. x, xi, xii Guy Boeckxstaens, Professor of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Leuven, Belgium said: "PPIs are the cornerstone of therapy for GERD patients, however there are many patients who still experience persistent, recurring symptoms, despite PPI treatment. Research and innovation to address the pathophysiology of reflux are important in order to find other treatment options besides PPIs to address the unmet need in this patient group." Data from a study on healthy volunteers presented today showed that AZD3355 reduced the mean number on TLESRs by 36% compared to placebo.xiii In addition, AZD3355 significantly increased LES pressure, reduced esophageal acid exposure and proximal reflux events when used as add-on treatment to a PPI in patients with GERD with symptoms despite PPI therapy.i The findings provide proof of concept of AZD3355 and a direction for further development of the drug.ii About Digestive Diseases Week DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, DDW takes place May 30 - June 4, 2009, at the McCormick Place, Chicago, IL. The meeting showcases approximately 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology. For more information, visit http://www.ddw.org. 瀃 References [i] Boeckxstaens, G. Effect of AZD3355, a Novel GABAB Agonist, on Reflux and Lower Esophageal Sphincter Function in Patients With GERD With Symptoms Despite Proton Pump Inhibitor Treatment. Data to be presented at Digestive Diseases Week 2009 - Poster M1861 [ii] Boeckxstaens, G. Efficacy and Tolerability of the Novel Reflux Inhibitor, AZD3355, as Add-on Treatment in GERD Patients with Symptoms Despite Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy. Data to be presented at Digestive Diseases Week 2009 - Poster M1875 [iii] Vakil N, Van Zanten SV, Kahrilas P, Dent J, Jones R and the Global Consensus Group. The Montreal Definition and classification of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a global evidence-based consensus. Am J Gastroenterol 2006;101:1900-20. [iv] Malfertheiner P, Hallerb÷¤ck B. Clinical manifestations and complications of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Int J Clin Pract 2005; 59:346࿽࿽"55. [v] Fass R, Drugs 2007; 67: 1521-30 [vi] Kahrlias PJ, Shi G. Pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease: the antireflux barrier and luminal clearance mechanisms. In Orlando RC. ed Gastroesophageal reflux disease. New York: Marcel Dekker. 2000. 137-64. [vii] Mittal RK, Balaban DH. The esophagogastric junction. N Engl J Med. 1997.336: 924-32. [viii] Dodds WJ, Dent J, Hogan WJ, et al. Mechanisms of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with reflux esophagitis. N Engl J Med. 1982. 307: 1547-52. [ix] Dent J, Dods WJ, Friedman RH, et al. Mechanism of gastroesophageal reflux in recumbent asymptomatic human subjects. J Clin Invest. 1980. 65: 256-67. F [x] Ciccaglione AF, Marzio L. Effect of acute and chronic administrations of the GABAB agonist baclofen on 24 hours pH metry and symptoms in control subjects and in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Gut 2003;52:464-470. [xi] Boeckxstaens GE, Tytget GNJ: More pathophysiologically oriented treatment of GORD? Lancet 2002, 359:1267-1268. [xii] Hirsch DP, Tytgat GNJ, Boeckzstaens GEE: Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations: a pharmacological target for gastroesophageal reflux disease [review]. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2002, 16:17-26. [xiii] Boeckxstaens, G, Rydholm, H, Adler J, Ruth, M. Effect of AZD3355, a Novel GABAb Receptor Agonist, on Transient Lower Esophageal Sphincter Relaxations in Healthy Subjects. Data to be presented at Digestive Diseases Week 2009 - oral presentation 772 AstraZeneca


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

© Copyright 2009