Study -- More Rapid Lung Destruction in Marijuana Smokers than Tobacco Smokers



A study in a Wiley-Blackwell journal - Respirology - finds that the development of bullous lung disease occurs in marijuana smokers approximately 20 years earlier than tobacco smokers.

At present, about 10% of young adults and 1% of the adult population smoke marijuana regularly. Researchers find that the mean age of marijuana-smoking patients with lung problems was 41, as opposed to the average age of 65 years for tobacco-smoking patients.

A condition often caused by exposure to toxic chemicals or long-term exposure to tobacco smoke, bullous lung disease (also known as bullae) is a condition where air trapped in the lungs causes obstruction to breathing and eventual destruction of the lungs.

Lead author Dr. Matthew Naughton says, "What is outstanding about this study is the relatively young ages of the lung disease patients, as well as the lack of abnormality on chest X-rays and lung functions in nearly half of the patients we tested."

The greater and earlier damage may be caused by the fact that unlike with tobacco use, marijuana is inhaled as extremely hot fumes to the peak inspiration and held for as long as possible before slow exhalation

Full Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/94896.php



7:31 AM | Comments [0]

Thursday, 10 Jan 2008

Living in rural areas or small towns reduces access to transplants



Living in rural areas or small towns reduces the likelihood of being listed for, and of actually receiving an organ transplant.

This study of over 175,000 patients who were grouped into 3 residential population levels (less than10,000, 10,00 to 50,000, and over 50,000),, by David A. Axelrod, MD of Dartmouth NH and his colleages pointed out that approximately 14% of the US population.reside in these rural and/or isolated areas..

Based on the study, patients living in these rural or isolated rural regions were 8% to 15% less likely to get listed for transplant, and 10% to20% less likely to actually undergo transplantation procedures.

Read more at:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/surgery/transplantation/dh/7915

7:31 AM | Comments [0]


Friday, 4 Jan 2008

Watson Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for generic equivalent to DuoNeb



Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: WPI), a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that it has received final approval from the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Ipratropium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution in the 0.5 mg/3 mg strength.

Watson's Ipratropium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate product is the generic equivalent to Dey, L.P.'s DuoNeb(R), which is indicated for the treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients requiring more than one bronchodilator. For the 12 months ending September 2007, DuoNeb(R) and its generic equivalents had total U.S. sales of approximately $265 million, according to IMS Health data. Watson intends to launch its Ipratropium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate product immediately.


Source:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/92884.php

1:38 PM | Comments [0]


Thursday, 27 Dec 2007

Trial volunteers are often 'left in lurch' after a trial ends




Patients who take part in drug trials are being left in the lurch once the research is completed, doctors warn.
People assume they will be given the treatment indefinitely with the NHS picking up the bill, the Faculty of Public Health said.

But primary care trusts have limited budgets and cannot pay for treatments before the effectiveness has been established, they stressed.

Industry experts agree patients needed to be aware that treatment may end.

In a quote in the article, Dr Jonathan Howell says:
At the very least they should be told very clearly before they consent that either there will not be any ongoing funding from the drug company, or that the company will continue the funding until other funding is in place

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7155572.stm





12:14 PM | Comments [0]


Saturday, 8 Dec 2007

Major Study of COPD Patients for Alpha-1



The Alpha-1 Foundation and then AARC to study 5,000 COPD Patients For Alpha-1 to determine the prevalence of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1).

The principal investigator, Robert A. Sandhaus, MD, PhD, of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, states ."If the current literature is correct, the study should identify about 50 to 100 individuals who are unaware they have COPD due to Alpha-1. In addition, the study should identify about 300 people who are carrying a single abnormal Alpha-1 gene. All will be counseled about the potential risk to their children and family members."

Dr Sandhous goes on to say "If this study confirms what much smaller studies have suggested about Alphas hidden in the COPD population, there could be as many as 400,000 individuals in the US who have lung disease due to Alpha-1 and don't know it"

Read the full article at:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/90969.php


10:00 AM | Comments [1]



<March (08)>SMTWTFS------1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303 1-----This Month!Links



Admin Sign In

Username:
Password:
Remember Login