Statins May Aid in Cancer Prevention
According to a report in the May 26, 2005 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, statin drugs, normally used for cholesterol management, may also prevent colorectal cancer. A recent investigation of these drugs found that their regular use reduced the chances of developing colorectal cancer by nearly 50%.
This study compared statin use in 1,953 Israeli patients who had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 1998 and 2004 to statin use in 2,015 others used as a control group. The two most commonly used statins in this study were simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol). Researchers observed a strong protective effect of the statins in relation to the development of colorectal cancer. The study concluded that there was a 47% risk reduction after adjustment for other known risk factors.
"Golden" Opportunity for RA Sufferers
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who have not had a positive response to the standard treatment of methotrexate now have another option. New research shows that injections of a liquid form of gold, when used in combination with methotrexate, can offer relief.
In this study, performed at the Arthritis Research Center of Canada in Vancouver, 65 randomly selected patients received weekly injections of either gold or placebo. After 48 weeks, the gold-treated patients had a significantly more positive response than those who received placebo injections.
Though there are new anti-rheumatic drugs on the horizon, their high costs will make it difficult for all RA sufferers to benefit from them. Due to the cost-effectiveness of gold therapy, it will continue to have an important function in RA treatment when used in combination with methotrexate.
Improving Quality of Life for Bipolar Patients
People who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder have severe to violent mood swings, ranging from deep depression to manic euphoria. Many of them are prescribed antipsychotic drugs, such as lithium. Though these drugs control the highs and lows, they leave the patient feeling monotonous, or robot-like. Due to the poor quality of life caused by these drugs, patients often discontinue treatment.
An investigation of bipolar patients using a drug called quetiapine fumarate (Seroquel) was recently conducted at Columbia University in New York. One hundred eighty patients received a daily dose of 600 mg, 181 received a daily 300 mg dose, and another 181 were given placebo.
The researcher measured quality of life at the beginning of the study, after 4 weeks, and again after 8 weeks. A standard 16-question survey was used in the evaluation. The findings showed a significant improvement in quality of life in the patients who received either dose of quetiapine fumarate from very early on.
It is hoped that findings like these will encourage providers to ask their bipolar patients more questions about quality of life, not just about their symptoms.
Teen Meningitis Shots Recommended
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics, now endorse recommendations made by vaccine advisors to vaccinate people at high risk for bacterial meningitis.
The largest population of at-risk people includes preteens aged 11 and 12 years, newly enrolled students in high school, and college students living in dormitories. These age groups are most at risk due to lifestyle factors that contribute to the spreading of the disease such as direct contact with an infected person, crowded living conditions, and active or passive smoking. Other groups at risk that should receive the vaccinations are those with preexisting medical conditions, as well as travelers to areas with high rates of meningococcal disease.
The Pill and Reduced Libido
Researchers at Boston University Medical College tested 124 women who were being treated for sexual dysfunction. One-half of these women used the pill regularly, 39 had just stopped taking it, and 23 had never used any oral contraceptives at all.
Blood samples from all participants were examined for traces of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). The pill causes the body to over-produce this substance, which lowers testosterone-the hormone that fuels sex drive in both men and women. These tests revealed that women who regularly used the pill at some point in their lives had very low testosterone levels, but also had four times the amount of SHBG than the women who had never taken it. The SHBG levels were lower in the women who had ceased taking the pill 4 months prior, but they were still twice as high as those who had never taken the pill at all.
The researchers fear that the levels of SHBG are permanently raised in women who take oral contraceptives regardless of whether or not they stop at any point. They feel strongly that healthcare providers should educate women about these ramifications.