| Green
Tea Knocks Out Leukemia Cells
Cancer is less
common in eastern Asia, where green tea is the most common beverage.
In April 2004 a study was published in the journal "Blood",
which shows that green tea has killing powers in the unpredictable
and slow form of B cell leukemia. A component in green tea called
epigallotechin (EGCG) disturbs the chemical information flow in
leukemia cells in lab cultures. It means that the communication
between the cells is disturbed, and cancer cells cannot multiply.
Dr. Neil Kay of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. is confident
that the compound EGCG will be of benefit especially in the treatment
of early-stage patients.
In the meantime, a flavorful soothing cup of green tea has its benefits.
Based on
National Review of Medicine (Canada), April 30,2004
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Take
A Deep Breath For Insulin
Patients with
diabetes sometimes find it difficult to face the daily insulin injections.
Studies by Dr. Robert A. Gerber from Pfizer Global Research and
Development in Groton, Mass. are showing that improvements in the
lab tests for the diabetes marker hemoglobin A1C were similar for
patients who received insulin inhalations to those patients who
received the conventional injections.
The ease of
use, comfort, as well as the overall satisfaction of inhalation
as opposed to injection rated high. Long term improvement in the
control of blood sugar is maintained up to the 1 year follow-up.
In the future the patients may very well have the choice between
inhalation and injection of insulin. Even though the 1 year follow-up
results are in, longer follow-up studies are needed, before insulin
shots become a thing of the past.
Based on
Diabetes Care 2004; 27:1318-1323
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Cellulite
- Quacks And Facts
California dermatologist
Dr. Mitchell Goldman presented an overview at the American Academy
of Dermotology, and stated that there are many types of treatment
options available to combat cellulite including creams, massage,
diet, and exercise. He cautions however, that nobody at this time
has done a study which evaluates the 20 creams that are currently
on the market. It is true that a large variety of ingredients in
the creams directly help stimulating the fat metabolism, increasing
circulation and lymphatic flow.
He suggests
to his patients to try a product for a month, and if there is no
improvement, a switch to a different one should be made. The effectiveness
of the creams can be enhanced by wearing bioceramic neoprene shorts.
They look like normal work-out shorts, and wearing them a couple
of hours per day can keep the cellulite from coming back.
Endermology is another treatment which can be useful with cellulite
reduction: a mechanical action gently folds and unfolds the affected
skin areas under the continous action of rollers. These rollers
help improve the microcirculation, stimulate fluid exchange and
improve overall cell function.
A variety of scams for treatment lurks on the Internet. Patients
seeking treatment should be cautious about the most commonly advertised
rip-off treatment called "mesotherapy".
It involves injecting toxic substances into the body, including
carbon dioxide gas. There has never been a scientific study which
proves that it works, yet there is a great deal of publicity enticing
patients to try it.
It is also important that patients are informed that cellulite is
a condition that can be successfully treated, but it cannot be cured.
Once you stop using the cream or the controlling treatment, the
cellulite will return.
Based on
The Medical Post, March 2, 2004, p. 21
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New
Antibody Treatment For Colon Cancer
The drug Cetuximab
landed Martha Stewart in the middle of an insider-trading scandal
back in December of 2001. Inside information stated that the FDA
had turned down the application for this drug in December. However,
now there is good news for patients.
The FDA has
recently approved the drug, also known as Erbitux. The medication
offers treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer
who are not tolerating chemotherapy with irinotecan. The most innovative
feature of Erbitux is the fact, that it is the first-of-its-kind
antibody that inhibits a specific protein, which in turn stops cell
division of cancer cells. Clinical trials that were done in Europe
consisted of testing stage III colorectal cancer patients with irinotecan
(chemotherapeutic agent) alone or in combination with Cetuximab.
The survival advantage was almost 9 months better in the combination
group. Cetuximab alone also had a certain effect, but was not as
good as the combination therapy. In the next few years more of these
new antibody therapies will be tested in clinical trials to check
out the safety and the effectiveness in various cancer types.
Based on
a paper by Harris M - Lancet Oncol - 01-MAY-2004; 5(5): 292-302:
"Monoclonal
antibodies as therapeutic agents for cancer".
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Eczema
- More Than Skin Deep
Dermatologists
have seen more than a threefold increase of eczema in the last thirty
years.
The condition is common especially in childhood. Skin irritants
can play a role. Dr. Harvey Lui, Professor for Dermatology at the
University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, also observed,
that eczema is much more common in the Asian population. Patients
who came from the warmer climate of Southeast Asia and are exposed
to a harsher, colder climate will get into trouble more easily,
as dryness of the skin will aggravate the skin condition.
Dr. Lui also
stresses, that patient education about sensible skin care is of
great importance. Fighting fire with fire - like taking a hot shower
to combat itchy and dry skin- will make things worse in the long
run. Inflamed skin needs to be kept cool. Dr. Lui also stresses
that skin has to be kept from drying out. These simple measures
for which no prescription is needed are often neglected.
In severe cases the traditional steroid cream has been replaced
by preparations, which have an effect on the immune response. Dr.
Lui explains that eczema is partially an exaggerated response of
the immune system to whatever is noxious or irritating in the environment.
The medication tacrolimus (Prograf) is a naturally derived compound
that makes the immune cells (T-cells) less active, as they are responsible
for the overactive response. It is called an "immunomodulator".
Due to this knowledge more treatment options are available than
in the past. Atopic eczema is very often combined with asthma and
allergies and tends to run in families.As the immune system gets
strengthened during childhood, eczema tends to be worse in the young
person, and time can be the greatest ally in the healing process.
The Medical
Post, March 2, 2004 (p.2
and 65) and "Guidelines of care for atopic dermatitis"
Hanifin J - J Am Acad Dermatol - 2004 Mar; 50(3), p.391
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