Cancer Research: Guided ultrasound plus nanoparticle chemotherapy cures tumors in mice ♦ Price of cancer drugs varies by up to 388% between European countries

Guided ultrasound plus nanoparticle chemotherapy cures tumors in mice Thermal ablation with magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) is a noninvasive technique for treating fibroids and cancer.Combining the technique with chemotherapy can allow complete destruction of tumors in mice.

Gene pair plays crucial role in colon cancer Two related genes in the Musashi family are required for colon cancer to develop, researchers have discovered, adding that they may be useful targets for effective treatment.

Price of cancer drugs varies by up to 388% between European countries, Australia, and New Zealand  The price of new cancer drugs varies widely (from 28% to 388%) between high-income countries in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, new research has found. The UK and Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Spain, and Portugal pay the lowest average unit manufacturer prices for a group of 31 originator cancer drugs (new drugs under patent), whereas Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany pay the highest prices.

Researchers identify biomarker of early lung cancer that may increase survival Researchers have identified a biomarker that detects the most common lung cancer in its earliest stage. The discovery could one day change how long lung cancer patients live

Health Research: Stretchable, wearable sensor made with chewing gum ♦ Understanding why group singing helps in dementia ♦Swimming devices could deliver drugs inside the body

Experts urge early evaluation of fracture risk in diabetics Despite an up to six-fold increased risk of fragility fractures in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients, there is a general lack of knowledge about the complex relationship between bone and diabetes. In order to promote understanding of the latest advances and to encourage early evaluation of fracture risk, a group of experts has now published a scientific review which highlights new information regarding fracture risk in T1DM patients

Swimming devices could deliver drugs inside the body A new method of guiding microscopic swimming devices has the potential to deliver drugs to a targeted location inside the body, according to new research. These devices, which are a similar size to cells and bacteria -- around a hundredth of the average diameter of a strand of human hair -- could be used to deliver drugs to a specific location inside the body or outside of the body to diagnose diseases in blood samples.

Understanding why group singing helps in dementia Couples where one partner is suffering from dementia can benefit from taking part in group singing.

Stretchable, wearable sensor made with chewing gum Body Sensors now allow any wearer to easily track heart rate, steps and sleep cycles around the clock. Soon, they could become even more versatile -- with the help of chewing gum. Scientists report a unique sensing device made of gum and carbon nanotubes that can move with your most bendable parts and track your breathing.

Health News: FDA Seizes Counterfeit Drugs, Devices Sold Online ♦Increased anxiety associated with sitting down ♦ Scientists turn white fat into obesity-fighting beige fat

FDA Seizes Counterfeit Drugs, Devices Sold Online  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced June 18 that it had worked with international partners to seize counterfeit medicines and medical devices being sold over 1,050 Web sites worldwide. The FDA also sent warning letters to the operators of nearly 400 sites selling illegal prescription medicines and unapproved medical devices online, as part of an international effort led by Interpol.

Increased anxiety associated with sitting down Low-energy activities that involve sitting down are associated with an increased risk of anxiety, according to new research. These activities, which include watching TV, working at a computer or playing electronic games, are called sedentary behavior

Scientists turn white fat into obesity-fighting beige fat Scientists have shown that berries, grapes and other fruits convert excess white fat into calorie-burning 'beige' fat, providing new strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity. In the study, mice were fed a high fat diet. Those receiving resveratrol in amounts equivalent to 12 ounces of fruit per day for humans gained about 40 percent less weight than control mice.

Access to electricity is linked to reduced sleep New research comparing traditional hunter-gatherer living conditions to a more modern setting shows that access to artificial light and electricity has shortened the amount of sleep humans get each night.

How to wipe out polio and prevent its re-emergence Public health officials stand poised to eliminate polio from the planet. But a new study shows that the job won't be over when the last case of the horrible paralytic disease is recorded. Using disease-transmission models, graduate researchers demonstrate that silent transmission of poliovirus could continue for more than three years with no reported cases.

Fake Medicines Poses Urgent Risk

Poor quality medicines are a real and urgent threat that could undermine decades of successful efforts to combat Fake Medicines Poses Urgent Risk, according to the editors of a collection of journal articles published today. Scientists report up to 41 percent of specimens failed to meet quality standards in global studies of about 17,000 drug samples. Among the collection is an article describing the discovery of falsified and substandard malaria drugs that caused an estimated 122,350 deaths in African children in 2013. Other studies identified poor quality antibiotics, which may harm health and increase antimicrobial resistance. However, new methodologies are being developed to detect problem drugs at the point of purchase and show some promise, scientists say.

Seventeen articles in all, detailing various aspects of the issue and proposing possible solutions, are included in a special journal supplement “The Global Pandemic of Falsified Medicines: Laboratory and Field Innovations and Policy Perspectives,” published online ahead of print by The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Several articles suggest policy interventions, including an international framework and the adoption of stricter national laws against drug counterfeiting.

“This problem continues to spread globally, creating an even greater challenge to cooperation among stakeholders, many with limited resources,” noted the supplement’s co-editor, Joel Breman, M.D., M.P.H., senior scientist emeritus at the National Institutes of Health’s Fogarty International Center. “The need is urgent for collaboration among those with expertise in policy, science, technology, surveillance, epidemiology and logistics, in order to secure global supply chains.”

In an introductory essay, former U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, M.D., says globalization has added layers of complexity to the drug supply chain that require greater oversight. “Today’s medical-product landscape blurs the line between domestic and foreign production, drawing attention to the need for global quality and safety oversight to prevent patient exposure to falsified products,” wrote Dr. Hamburg, who was recently named foreign secretary of the Institute of Medicine.

Scientists inspected the quality of about 16,800 samples of anti-malarials, anti-tuberculosis medicines, antibiotics and anti-leishmaniasis drugs and reported from 9 to 41 percent failed to meet the specifications. Seven separate studies were carried out, primarily in low-resource settings, and included samples from public and private sources.

“The pandemic of falsified and substandard medicines is pervasive and underestimated, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where drug regulatory systems are weak or non-existent, as shown by field studies in the supplement,” says Jim Herrington, Ph.D., M.P.H., co-editor of the supplement and director of the University of North Carolina’s Gillings Global Gateway at Chapel Hill. Until recently, Herrington was director of Fogarty’s international relations division.

New methodologies to test drug quality are emerging and scientists reported the results of four investigations. Simple paper-based test cards proved to be an economical and portable method to identify very low quality anti-malarials. More sophisticated approaches using fluorescent and luminescent techniques or other novel technologies can measure with greater precision, but may be difficult to use in remote settings. All of these promising tools require further testing to provide a greater evidence base to guide policy makers, the authors say.

An urgent and coordinated international response is required to address the pandemic of poor quality drugs, the scientists maintain. Policy proposals include a global agreement, similar to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control , and stricter national laws to prosecute those who knowingly sell counterfeit medicines.

In addition to Fogarty, the supplement is sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the New Venture Fund.

The individual articles will be published online at: http://www.ajtmh.org/content/early/recent

The Fogarty International Center addresses global health challenges through innovative and collaborative research and training programs and supports and advances the NIH mission through international partnerships. For more information, visit http://www.fic.nih.gov.

Health Research: Synthetic drugs that can cause cancer ♦ Exploring the ADHD-Autism link ♦ Protein that boosts immunity to viruses and cancer

Exploring the ADHD-Autism link A licensed clinical psychologist is focusing on the ADHD-autism link to better understand why people with ADHD and autism may be more prone to substance abuse and to develop more effective behavioral therapies

Scientists discover protein that boosts immunity to viruses and cancer Scientists have discovered a protein that plays a central role in promoting immunity to viruses and cancer, opening the door to new therapies. Experiments in mice and human cells have shown that the protein promotes the proliferation of cytotoxic T cells, which kill cancer cells and cells infected with viruses.

Difficult to break the soda habit? Sugar-sweetened beverages suppress body's stress response Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages can suppress the hormone cortisol and stress responses in the brain, but diet beverages aspartame do not have the same effect,.

Increasing evidence points to inflammation as source of nervous system manifestations of Lyme disease About 15 percent of patients with Lyme disease develop peripheral and central nervous system involvement, often accompanied by debilitating and painful symptoms. New research indicates that inflammation plays a causal role in the array of neurologic changes associated with Lyme disease. The investigators also showed that the drug dexamethasone prevents many of these reactions.

Synthetic drugs: evidence that they can cause cancer  Almost weekly, a new synthetic psychoactive drug comes onto the market that can be ordered legally and easily, for example as an incense blend, via the Internet. Synthetic cannabinoids are difficult to identify chemically and the possible unwanted toxic effects that can occur following their consumption have so far rarely been investigated. As part of the international EU project "SPICE II Plus", researchers have now also found evidence that synthetic substances damage the DNA of human cells and can therefore possibly have cancer-causing effects.

Health News:FDA withdraw approval for arsenic based drugs ♦ T-cell slow down run-away immune system ♦ Exercise outweighs harmful effects of air pollution

FDA to withdraw approval for arsenic based drugs used in poultry The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Wednesday that it has received a letter of commitment from Zoetis Animal Health that, by this coming fall, the company will suspend the sale of Histostat (nitarsone) and formally request that FDA withdrew approval for the drug by the end of the year. Nitarsone is the only arsenic-based animal.

Newly enlisted T-cell 'policemen' can slow down run-away immune system Researchers have discovered that potentially aggressive T-cells that might lead to autoimmune disease can instead be enlisted to help "police" over-active immune responses, via the molecule CD5. This new breakthrough may open the door to design better treatments for autoimmune diseases

Exercise can outweigh harmful effects of air pollution The beneficial effects of exercise are more important for our health than the negative effects of air pollution, in relation to the risk of premature mortality.

Antibiotic resistance risk for coastal water users in UK Recreational users of coastal waters around the United Kingdom, such as swimmers and surfers, are at risk of exposure to antibiotic resistant bacteria, according to new research published this week.

Major hand hygiene problems in operating rooms observed 2,393 opportunities for hand disinfection and/or aseptic techniques were identified by researchers in a recent study. Doctors and nurses missed 90% of the opportunities, they report.

Supplements Recalled Because of Undeclared Drug Ingredients

Detox Transforms Health and Nutrition, Garner, NC announced it is conducting a voluntary recall of the following dietary supplements, to the consumer level, because they contain undeclared drug ingredients making them unapproved drugs.suppliments

Product Name	Bottle Color	Label	# Capsules	UPC	Lot	Expiration
EDGE Amplified Weight Release	White	Purple label	60	852175004174	ALL
iNDiGO	White	Dark blue label	60	852175004044	000034	4/10/2017
AMPD Gold Bee Pollen	White	Black label	60	852175004181	ALL
BtRim Max	White	Dark Red label	60	852175004068	00002	4/27/2017
iNSANE Bee Pollen	White	Bright Red label	60	852175004082	0000:02	6/20/2017

FDA analysis found iNDiGO and BtRim Max to contain undeclared phenolphthalein. The health risks of phenolphthalein could include potentially serious gastrointestinal disturbances, irregular heartbeat, and cancer with long-term use. FDA analysis found EDGE Amplified Weight Release and iNSANE Bee Pollen to contain undeclared phenolphthalein and fluoxetine. In addition to the potential adverse health consequences for phenolphthalein, the concomitant use of fluoxetine with other medications such as MAO-Inhibitors and serotonin precursors (such as tryptophans) is either contraindicated or is not recommended.

Fluoxetine is an SSRI with potentially life threatening side effects that is given to patients to treat depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or bulimia. Even when taken as prescribed, fluoxetine has been associated with serious side effects including suicidal thinking, abnormal bleeding, and seizures. Thus, any adverse reaction that is possible with fluoxetine is possible with the fluoxetine containing dietary supplement product.

In patients on other medications for common conditions (aspirin, ibuprofen, or other drugs for depression, anxiety, bipolar illness, blood clots, chemotherapy, heart conditions, and psychosis), ventricular arrhythmia or sudden death can occur with concomitant use of fluoxetine. FDA analysis found AMPD Gold Bee Pollen to contain undeclared sildenafil which has the potential to interact with medications. Males taking nitrates are at risk for life threatening hypotensive events. Certain medications such as ritonavir, ketoconazole, and itraconazole as well as consuming substantial amounts of alcohol can increase the effects of sildenafil.

The products were distributed nationwide via the internet and retail stores.

Detox Transforms has ceased distribution of the products as the company is working in close cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fully resolve this issue. Detox Transforms is notifying its distributors and customers by email, telephone, and mail and is arranging for return of all recalled products. Consumers/distributors/retailers that have these products which are being recalled should stop use and return to place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall may contact Detox Transforms at 877-404-7873 or 919-341-9050 between the hours of 10am – 6pm (EST), Monday through Friday. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with these of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

• Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
• Regular Mail or Fax: Download form www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.

Many Americans at Risk for Alcohol-Medication Interactions

About 71% of U.S. adults drink alcohol. Many commonly prescribed medications can interact with alcohol, including drugs to treat depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The combination of alcohol and medications can cause many adverse health effects. These include nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, and loss of coordination. More severe effects include internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulty breathing. Alcohol can also make some medications less effective or even useless.

Older adults are at particular risk for interactions between alcohol and prescription medications. They’re more likely to be taking medications in the first place. And certain medications that are affected by alcohol use, such as diazepam (Valium), last longer in aging bodies. This creates a longer window of opportunity for interactions.

To better understand the relationship between alcohol consumption and prescription medicine use in the U.S. population, a team led by Dr. Rosalind Breslow at NIH’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2010). More than 26,000 adults were asked about alcohol use in the past year and over their lifetime and prescription drug use in the past month. The study appeared in the February 2015 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Almost 600 (45%) of the prescription medications listed in the NHANES survey database were classified as interacting with alcohol. The main types were blood pressure medications, sleeping pills, pain medications, muscle relaxers, diabetes and cholesterol medications, antidepressants, and antipsychotics.

The analysis found that about 42% of adults who drink also use medications known to interact with alcohol. Nearly 78% of older adults (over 65 years of age) who drink use such medications. Among the most frequent drinkers (5 to 7 drinks per week), about 38% use prescription medications that can interact with alcohol.

The researchers note that they couldn't confirm whether drinking and medication use overlapped based on the available data. These are potential, rather than actual, rates. However, they highlight the potential scale of this problem.

“Our findings show that a substantial percentage of people who drink regularly, particularly older adults, could be at risk of harmful alcohol and medication interactions,” Breslow says. “We suggest that people talk to their doctor or pharmacist about whether they should avoid alcohol while taking their prescribed medications.”

“Combining alcohol with medications often carries the potential for serious health risks,” says NIAAA director Dr. George Koob. “Based on this study, many individuals may be mixing alcohol with interactive medications and they should be aware of the possible harms.”

1/27/15 Health News: Drugs from dirt ♦ Higher dementia risk linked to common drugs ♦ Safety of Imported Seafood ♦ Methadone to treat pain increases risk of death

Higher dementia risk linked to more use of common drugs

A large study links a significantly increased risk for developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, to taking commonly used medications with anticholinergic effects. Many older people take these medications, which include nonprescription Benadryl.Continue Reading

LOUISIANA SENATOR SEEKS TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF IMPORTED SEAFOOD

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) introduced a bill this past week that would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to ensure the safety of imported seafood. According to the American Shrimp Processors Association, which supports the bill, S. 190 increases inspection standards on foreign imported seafood, requires foreign exporters to meet U.S.... Continue Reading

Poor social integration = poor health

There are many benefits to being supported by a strong social network. But can a bigger friend base actually make you healthier? New research shows that social relationships do have a positive influence our physical well-being. Continue Reading

Drugs from dirt: Scientists develop first global roadmap for drug discovery

Scientists have analyzed soils from beaches, forests, and deserts on five continents and found the best places in the world to mine untapped antibiotic and anticancer drugs. The findings provide a road map for future drug discovery. Continue Reading

Use of methadone to treat pain increases risk of death, study shows

Outside the hospital, use of methadone to treat pain carries a 46 percent increased risk of death when compared to the equally effective but more costly alternative, morphine SR (sustained release), according to a recent study Continue Reading

11/25/14 Health News: Drink will reduce your cancer risk ♦ Untapped source of antibiotic drugs ♦ Personalized vaccines ♦ Longer work hours for moms means obesity for preschoolers

This drink will substantially reduce your cancer risk

Attention, ladies: Science says it’s time to put the kettle on. A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women who consumed the most flavonoids, a type of antioxidant abundant in tea, were significantly less likely to develop endothelial ovarian cancer—the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women.  Continue Reading

Life's extremists may be an untapped source of antibacterial drugs

Life's extremists, a family of microbes called Archaea, may be an untapped source of new antibacterial drugs. That conclusion arises from the discovery of the first antibacterial gene in this ancient lineage  Continue Reading

Possibilities for personalized vaccines

Medical researchers are considering the possibilities for personalized vaccines in all types of cancer. The first vaccine will be prepared from a warehouse of 72 targets previously identified by the researchers as relevant for treatment in glioblastoma Continue Reading

Longer work hours for moms mean less sleep, higher BMIs for preschoolers

A link between moms' employment and overweight/obesity in preschoolers has been found by researchers. The study investigated links between mothers' employment status and their children's weight over time, exploring the impact of potential mediators, such as children's sleep and dietary habits, the amount of time they spent watching TV and family mealtime routines  Continue Reading

NIH System to Monitor Emerging Drug Trends

Data from the National Drug Early Warning System will promote rapid and effective public health responses

An innovative National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) is being developed to monitor emerging trends that will help health experts respond quickly to potential outbreaks of illicit drugs such as heroin and to identify increased use of designer synthetic compounds. The system will scan social media and Web platforms to identify new trends as well as use conventional national- and local-level data resources.

“By monitoring trends at the local level, we hope to prevent emerging drug problems from escalating or spreading to surrounding regions”

Dr. Nora D. Volkow

Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

The University of Maryland’s Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) will receive five years of funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, to develop NDEWS.

“NDEWS will generate critically needed information about new drug trends in specific locations around the country so rapid, informed, and effective public health responses can be developed precisely where needed,” said NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. “By monitoring trends at the local level, we hope to prevent emerging drug problems from escalating or spreading to surrounding regions.”

Information about designer synthetic drugs – including different ways to possess and use them – is rapidly spread to millions of people through the Internet and social media. Also, other drug trends may quickly change. An example is the recent increases in heroin use among many regions across the country. Conventional methods to monitor drug trends may not ask about emerging drugs, do not always provide information about the types of drugs used at the community level, and may need a year or more to collect and report information.

Currently, NIDA conducts local-level surveillance on drug use through the Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) network. For the last 38 years, CEWG has relied on drug addiction experts to analyze data from various other sources and summarize this information in semiannual reports from sentinel sites - major metropolitan areas and some states from around the United States. NDEWS will continue to monitor drug trends in sentinel sites around the country using many of the national and local data sources that have been utilized by CEWG. To expand upon these efforts and produce an enhanced national system to reflect that new drug trends may emerge outside of sentinel sites, NDEWS will establish a virtual community - a network of addiction experts across the country who will regularly communicate with each other to:

• Detect emerging drug trends using national and local data sources (existing surveys, various drug-related lists and networks, and social media and web scans).
• Dispatch a rapid response team at hot spots - local areas with reported rapid increases in emerging drugs. This team will assess the outbreak and collect anonymous urine samples — provided by criminal justice drug testing programs — for enhanced analysis that includes testing for synthetic drug metabolites.
• Quickly disseminate information to the public using traditional and social media, websites, publications and newsletters.

“NDEWS promises to provide the country with critically needed real-time information about changing drug use patterns in communities across the country,” said lead investigator Dr. Eric Wish of CESAR. “It will utilize social media and other innovative technologies to identify emerging drugs and trends and to quickly disseminate important findings to experts and interested citizens. This opportunity builds on CESAR’s over 20 years of experience monitoring and reporting on emerging drugs.”

The five-year project begins in August 2014. For more information on the current system, CEWG, please go to:http://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/organization/workgroups-interest-groups-consortia/community-epidemiology-work-group-cewg.