June 17, 2006, 10:46 PM CT

Monkeys Vaccinated Against SIV Survive Longer

Results of two new studies sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), suggest that even if an HIV vaccine offers imperfect protection against the virus, it might provide vaccinated individuals with an important benefit: a significant survival advantage after infection.

Such a survival advantage was observed in monkey studies conducted by two teams of researchers, one led by Norman L. Letvin, M.D., of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School and the NIAID Vaccine Research Center (VRC), and the other by Mario Roederer, Ph.D., of the VRC. The scientists found that monkeys vaccinated against simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-a close relative of HIV that causes an AIDS-like disease in monkeys-and then exposed to the virus survived significantly longer than unvaccinated animals exposed to SIV.

"The worldwide need for an HIV vaccine is profound," says Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., director of the NIH. "In 2005, more than 11,000 people became infected with HIV every day. If that rate continues unchecked, the virus is going to infect another 40 million people during the coming decade".

"Eventhough our ultimate goal is to have a vaccine that completely blocks HIV infection, this research suggests a potential benefit of even a partially effective vaccine," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.........

Posted by: Jessica      Permalink         Source

June 16, 2006, 6:59 AM CT

Walk During Breast Cancer Chemotherapy

Many breast cancer patients may not be inclined to do much of walking, especially while having chemotherapy, but research has shown that mild exercise can help women feel better while undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. This finding comes from Australian researchers.

In a study of Queensland and Victorian women researchers found that a 20 minute walk two or three times a week was well worth the effort. Patsy Yates, Queensland University of Technology nursing researcher Patsy said that many women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer reported they felt so tired they did not want to get out of bed or even to concentrate on the usual day to day activities.

"One woman told me what a process it was to make sandwiches for her children to go to school because of her fatigue," Prof Yates said.

But contrary to traditional medical advice and the women's intuitive desire to rest, some regular light exercise actually improved their sense of wellbeing and gave them more energy for the things they enjoyed, she said.

"There's some good research which tells us that probably over the years we may have been giving women the wrong advice about resting and that sort of thing," Prof Yates said.

"We are not sure why exercise works but it could be because it keeps your body conditioned so the effort to do other things is less".........

Posted by: Janet      Permalink         Source

June 13, 2006, 9:06 PM CT

Pink Phone In Support Of Breast Cancer

Features:

• VGA camera with digital zoom
• Four fashionable colors
• 65K-color internal display
• Large external display
• Convenient speakerphone
• Sprint PCS VisionSM–compatible for vivid multimedia services*
• Sprint PCS Picture MailSM–capable so you can send digital pictures by e-mail*
• Ready LinkSM–capable for walkie-talkie–style communication*
• Supports Two-Way Text Messaging (additional charges apply)
• Hands-free voice-activated dialing
• Easy-to-use voice memo feature
• 300-contact directory
• Parental or business call-restriction settings
• English and Spanish support
........

Posted by: Jessica      Permalink         Source




June 13, 2006, 7:00 AM CT


U.S. And Middle East To Unite On Breast Cancer Fight


Breast cancer news from the White House and the first lady! First lady Laura Bush told yesterday that U.S. will work with nations in the Middle East to help spread awareness and research about the growing problem of breast cancer in a region where discussing it can be a cultural taboo.

Laura told that the State Department has formed partnerships with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to bring the latest information about the disease to these countries. Other countries like Morocco and Jordan might be joining the group soon, as discussion progress with these countries.

"The progress we've made in the United States is exciting, but too a number of women around the world are still too embarrassed or too uninformed to seek the therapy they need in time to save their lives," Mrs. Bush said at a conference sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, a partner in the effort.........

Posted by: Jessica      Permalink




June 11, 2006, 11:27 AM CT


Cost-effective Approaches To Cervical Cancer Prevention


JHPIEGO demonstrates that a "single visit approach" using Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA) is safe, acceptable, feasible and cost-effective.

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death among women in developing countries. From December 4-7, 2005, Ministries of Health, U.S. government agencies, leading clinical experts and reproductive health professionals from the United States, Asia, Africa and Latin America will convene in Bangkok, Thailand to address cervical cancer prevention in low-resource settings.

With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Glaxo Smith Kline and Digene, JHPIEGO, an international health affiliate of The Johns Hopkins University, is sponsoring this meeting "Preventing Cervical Cancer: From Research to Practice", in collaboration with the Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine.

The Royal Thai Ministry of Public Health and JHPIEGO's President and CEO Leslie D. Mancuso, PhD, RN, FAAN, welcome an international panel of speakers, including Paul D. Blumenthal, Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. Khunying Kobchitt Limpaphayom, JHPIEGO's Cervical Cancer Project Director, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and representatives from the World Health Organization. More than 100 participants from more than 15 countries will learn about innovative cervical cancer screening techniques and how to implement a high-quality, sustainable program. "JHPIEGO is honored to host this global meeting to share the proven, life-saving strategies, innovative service delivery and training approaches, as well as community mobilization and education techniques. Hopefully we'll also inspire attending countries to adopt these screening methods. On a scientific-level, we're talking about reducing the incidence of invasive cervical cancer in a cost-effective way. But on a human-level, we're talking about saving mothers, grandmothers, wives, sisters and friends," comments Dr. Mancuso.........

Posted by: Jessica      Permalink         Source




June 11, 2006, 11:25 AM CT


Latest In Prostate Cancer Therapy


The latest advances in prostate cancer diagnosis and therapy will be presented by experts from around the world this month at a revolutionary new meeting being launched by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).

The two-day conference, held in Antwerp, Belgium, on 10 and 11 March, is designed to ensure that Europe's cancer physicians and researchers are up to date with the latest information on prevention, therapy and supportive care for patients with prostate cancer.

"There has been a revolution in the way we approach therapy of prostate cancer," says Louis Denis, Local Chair of the ESMO International Symposium (EIS) on Prostate cancer. "This is thanks to our increased knowledge on its incidence, mortality and natural history; better use of imaging and prostate specific antigen tests to identify disease; and improvements in therapy with radiotherapy and chemotherapy."

Some 300 international specialists are expected to attend the symposium. Mario Dicato, Chair of the newly founded ESMO International Symposium Working Group, explains, "ESMO conceived the EIS meetings to address the constant need for updated information in specific fields of oncology on a multidisciplinary basis." Unlike most other scientific conferences, where presentations are based on a collection of different scientific abstracts, the EIS has been specifically designed to ensure that all the latest developments are presented in a program that follows the progression of disease.........

Posted by: Jessica      Permalink         Source




June 10, 2006, 6:38 PM CT


FDA aaproves Cervical Cancer Vaccine


A vaccine that protects against the virus known to cause most cervical cancers was given the blessing of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel Thursday.

The vaccine, Gardasil, is expected to get full FDA approval on June 8, and the national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will then decide whether to include the vaccine in routine vaccination schedules. Gardasil, which is manufactured by Merck & Co., would then become the first vaccine to be approved for the prevention of cervical cancer.

Experts noted the development of this type of vaccine is unquestionably a good thing.

"This will be a very important advance for public health for women," said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology/oncology at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation, in Baton Rouge, La.

"It's a very positive thing. There's no negative that I can think of," echoed Dr. Nicholas Klein, director of obstetrics and gynecology at Nyack Hospital, in Nyack, N.Y. "It's a great step forward in possibly preventing cervical cancer".

There are, however, some important remaining questions.

"This can have a tremendous effect on women's health," said Dr. Daniel H. Smith, chief of the gynecologic oncology division at Hackensack University Medical Center's Cancer Center, in New Jersey. "Having said that, to me, the real issue is who should be treated, and when".........

Posted by: Jessica      Permalink         Source




June 10, 2006, 6:28 PM CT


The Prostate Checkup


The American Urological Society and the American Cancer Society recommend that all men over age 50 have annual prostate screening. Those at high risk of prostate cancer should begin in their forties.

A regular exam commonly starts with your doctor asking about any family history of prostate cancer. Next your doctor may perform the most basic prostate screening: the digital rectal exam (DRE). The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to check for enlargement or a lump on the prostate. If there is a problem, he may refer you to an urologist, a doctor who specializes in the male urinary tract and reproductive system.

The urologist might order a PSA test. This simple, inexpensive test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your bloodstream. PSA is a protein made only by the prostate. Generally when a test shows higher than normal PSA levels, there's a greater chance of having prostate cancer. The test itself does not diagnose prostate cancer. And there can be a number of reasons other than cancer for PSA levels that are high.

If the PSA and/or DRE results are not normal, your doctor may order an ultrasound and possibly a biopsy. An ultrasound uses sound waves to find any abnormal areas in the prostate. It also helps the doctor measure the size of the prostate and look for malignant tissue. With a biopsy, the doctor uses a needle to remove some prostate cells (often with the help of an ultrasound). The cells are sent to a laboratory where a pathologist estimates the tumor's growth rate.........

Posted by: Jessica      Permalink         Source




June 10, 2006, 6:14 PM CT


Improving Radiation Therapy


Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and colleagues at Stony Brook University, the IRCCS NEUROMED Medical Center in Italy, and Georgetown University say improvements they have made to an experimental form of radiation therapy that has been under investigation for many years could make the technique more effective and eventually allow its use in hospitals. Results on the improved method, which was tested in rats, will be published online this week by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The technique, microbeam radiation therapy (MRT), previously used a high-intensity synchrotron x-ray source such as a superconducting wiggler at Brookhaven's National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) to produce parallel arrays of very thin (25 to 90 micrometers) planar x-ray beams (picture the parallel panels of window blinds in the open position) instead of the unsegmented (solid), broad beams used in conventional radiation treatment. Previous studies conducted at Brookhaven and at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France, demonstrated MRT's ability to control malignant tumors in animals with high radiation doses while subjecting adjacent normal tissue to little collateral damage.

But the technique has limitations. For one thing, only certain synchrotrons can generate its very thin beams at adequate intensity, and such facilities are available at only a few research centers around the world.........

Posted by: Jessica      Permalink         Source




June 9, 2006, 7:01 AM CT


Herceptin would be available for adjuvant treatment in UK


We have written in this column a number of times regarding the plight of breast cancer patients in UK. Even though herceptin was approved in USA and Canada for the adjuvant therapy of HER2 positive patients, the regulatory agencies in UK have been giving a hard time to women in UK. There were a number of protests and law-suits regarding this issue.

Now finally it looks like, thousands of women across UK will have access to herceptin after health watchdog's approval Herceptin for use as adjuvant treatment in breast cancer.

The decision comes after a long-running battle between patients and primary care trusts (PCT) across the country, to tackle what was described as a "postcode lottery" in the prescription of the drug.

We have written previously 53-year-old Ann Marie Rogers who protested, filed a law suit and won her case against Swindon PCT, which was forced to pay for her herceptin therapy. The court rat that time ruled that it was "irrational" for the trust to deny her drug after other PCTs had provided it elsewhere.

The trust had argued that the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) had yet to recommend use of the drug in early breast cancer sufferers except in "exceptional circumstances", but this was rejected by the court.........

Posted by: Janet      Permalink



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