Inflammation | Page 42 of 58

Arthritis :: Turmeric supplements show promise in treating arthritis

More than 40 percent of arthritis sufferers in the U.S. report using complementary and alternative medicine, including dietary supplements, and the use of alternative remedies has increased since the FDA issued health warnings about anti-inflammatory drugs such as Celebrex. However, the effectiveness of many supplement ingredients has not been adequately studied. To complicate the matter, over-the-counter supplements are not regulated in the same way as drugs and their composition can vary widely. A new study published in the November 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism examined the effect and mechanism of turmeric (a botanical supplement long thought to have anti-inflammatory properties) on arthritis.

Influenza :: Good medicines for flu, influenza in alternative medicines

“Friends, as the winters are coming, they are bringing influenza with them. So, be prepared to fight the disease and know about it,” Dr. Poonam Singhal. Influenza, also called grippe or flu, an acute contagious viral infection characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract and by fever, chills, muscular pain, and prostration, with cough, cold, sneezings, intense frontal headache, pain and aches in joints, fever (100 deg. F to 105 deg. F), nausea, etc.

Crohn’s Disease :: Gene found for crohn’s disease – hope for better therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases

A consortium of American and Canadian researchers report in Science Express, a rapid online publication by the journal Science, the discovery of a new genetic link to Crohn’s disease. While most of the mutations in the gene, which codes for a receptor in a major inflammatory pathway, are strongly associated with Crohn?s, surprisingly, one type of mutation appears to confer significant protection. The finding, say the researchers, points to a crucial target for drugs that might better manage Crohn?s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Hepatitis :: PEG-INTRON, peginterferon and REBETOL, ribavirin in Hepatitis C — Schering-Plough

Schering-Plough reported data from EPIC3, a large ongoing clinical study, showing that retreatment with PEG-INTRON(R) (peginterferon alfa-2b) and REBETOL(R) (ribavirin, USP) combination therapy can result in sustained virologic response(1) (SVR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C who failed previous treatment with any alpha interferon-based combination therapy, including peginterferon regimens. In this study, 56 percent of patients who had undetectable virus (HCV-RNA) after 12 weeks went on to achieve SVR with a 48-week course of therapy. Of the first 1,354 patients retreated, approximately 38 percent had undetectable virus at week 12. Importantly, patients who did not have undetectable virus at 12 weeks had little chance of achieving SVR. Overall, 23 percent of patients achieved SVR.

Ulcerative Colitis :: Mesalamine associated with rapid mucosal healing in ulcerative colitis patients

Combined data analysis from two trials demonstrated that treatment success is associated with mucosal healing in patients with moderately active ulcerative colitis who received either 2.4 or 4.8 grams of mesalamine per day. By 6 weeks, 67% of patients achieved both treatment success and mucosal healing, while only 5% achieved treatment success without demonstrating mucosal healing. The results were presented by University of Chicago researcher David T. Rubin, MD, at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).

Ulcerative Colitis :: Adherence to ulcerative colitis medications is not affected by drug formulation or dosing regimen

Poor adherence to medication is a recognized medical problem, costing an estimated $100 billion a year in the United States.(i) New data show that while there is a steady decline in adherence to medications for ulcerative colitis (UC), drug formulation and the number of pills taken each day do not affect long-term adherence. The data were presented today at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology by University of Chicago researcher Sunanda Kane, M.D.

Colorectal Cancer :: Mesalazine to prevent colorectal cancer in IBD

Speaking at a Ferring-sponsored symposium on the occasion of the 14th United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW) congress, Christoph Gasche, Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria presented the findings of an in-vitro study which for the first time demonstrates a mode of action by which mesalazine may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients.

Pain :: Gene variation affects pain sensitivity and risk of chronic pain

A new NIH-funded study shows that a specific gene variant in humans affects both sensitivity to short-term (acute) pain in healthy volunteers and the risk of developing chronic pain after one kind of back surgery. Blocking increased activity of this gene after nerve injury or inflammation in animals prevented development of chronic pain.

Alzheimer’s Disease :: Common cold leading to Alzheimer’s disease

Viruses linked to the common cold could be causing memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease in millions of people, new research suggests. Experts suspect that common viruses which infect around one billion people worldwide each year may be invading the central nervous system and damaging the brain. In later life this could lead to symptoms of memory loss and declining mental ability.

Allergy :: Altana’s Omnaris, ciclesonide nasal spray for allergies, allergic rhinitis, hay fever

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Omnaris (ciclesonide) nasal spray, a new drug for the treatment of nasal symptoms associated with seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, in adults and children 12 years of age and older.