GBS Treatment

Best Treatment for Paralyzing Disease                                                                                              Back to top

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the nervous system. The disorder begins with a rapid onset of weakness and often paralysis of the legs, arms, face and breathing muscles. A new study provides doctors guidelines about which treatments are best for patients with GBS. With GBS, the body produces extra antibodies which become misdirected and attack and damage nerves. Treatments focus on killing or removing these antibodies. Researchers say two treatments are equally beneficial for adults with severe GBS. These treatments include plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin. The study shows steroid treatment is not an effective treatment for patients with GBS. Researchers also report the importance of beginning treatment right after the first symptoms appear. Researchers say patients should have treatment within the first two to four weeks after diagnosis. Also, the study shows there is no benefit of combining the two effective treatments or performing one treatment after another. Furthermore, researchers say there are no adequate studies that have been done on children with this disease. However, they recommend the same treatment guidelines for children with GBS as adults with GBS.

 SOURCE: Neurology, 2003;61:736-740

Weight- Loss Products Alert!

Dangerous Weight-loss Products                                                                                                      Back to top

Taking herbal supplements for weight loss has become a popular trend, but a new study shows not all products are safe. Researchers in Japan studied 12 patients who developed liver problems after taking Chaso and Onshido -- two popular herbal weight-loss products made in China and sold on the Internet. Researchers reviewed the patients’ records to evaluate their medical history and conducted a chemical analysis of the herbal products to determine what ingredients they contained. Although both products were advertised as containing only botanicals, results of the study show the supplements contain N-nitroso-fenfluramine -- a drug taken off the market in the United States after being linked to heart problems. Researchers did not find any other potential causes for liver problems in the patients. One of the 12 patients died and another needed a liver transplant. The remaining 10 patients recovered after they stopped taking the supplements.

SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, 2003;139:488-492

 Fiber & Heart

 Fiber for the Heart                                                                                                                                   Back to top

Here’s another reason to include more fiber in your diet -- it may reduce your risk of coronary heart disease. A new study confirms the recommendation by the American Heart Association that eating more fiber, especially water-soluble fiber, is beneficial to your heart. A number of studies have found a connection between dietary fiber intake and the reduction of heart disease. In the current study, researchers focused on the relationship of total and soluble dietary fiber intake and the risk of coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease. The study included 9,776 adults who participated in another study. The participants did not have any diagnosed heart disease at the beginning of the research. Each person completed a form listing what he or she ate for 24 hours. The nutrient intakes were calculated using computer software. The participants were then followed for an average of 19 years to see who developed heart disease. Researchers report 1,843 of the participants developed coronary heart disease and 3,762 of the participants developed cardiovascular disease. Researchers then compared the dietary fiber intake of all of the participants. They report those who consumed the lowest amount of fiber (about six grams) were at a greater risk of having a heart problem compared to those who ate the most fiber (about 21 grams). Specifically researchers report a 12-percent lower risk of coronary heart disease and an 11-percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease for people who eat more than 22 grams of fiber a day. Researchers also found those who consumed water-soluble fiber had a decreased risk of heart problems. Cereal grains and legumes are excellent sources of water-soluble fiber.

SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, 2003;163:1897-1904

 Parkinson’s New Treatment!

 New Approach to Parkinson’s Treatment                                                                                         Back to top

Doctors from New York say they may have uncovered a “cheap and easy way to treat Parkinson’s disease.” The treatment, which is currently used to help people with epilepsy, appears to restore impaired brain function and protect against neurological degeneration. Researchers report the findings of a new study in which mice with Parkinson’s disease were treated with infusions of the drug D-beta-HB. Researchers believe Parkinson’s is caused by a depletion of the chemical dopamine in the brain. MPTP (1-methyl4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine) is a toxin that plays a role in this depletion. The idea behind this research is that D-beta-HB can protect both against the degeneration associated with the disease as well as protect against MPTP-related motor deficits. Researchers found the mice treated with D-beta-HB had their levels of dopamine in the brain remain constant while those treated with a placebo had their levels drop during the seven-day study. Based on their findings,  researcher writes that D-beta-HB, may be a straightforward neuroprotective strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2003,112:892-901

Simvastatin Works in the Evening

Cholesterol Drug Best in Evening                                                                                                       Back to top

New research confirms at least one common statin may be most effective when taken at night as opposed to the morning. Statins are drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol. Researchers from England studied 83 patients who were taking either 10 milligrams or 20 milligrams of simvastatin. They were taking the drug for primary or secondary prevention of coronary heat disease, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease. Patients were randomized to take the drug in the mornings or in the evenings. Fifty-seven patients completed the trial. Most manufacturers of statins recommend the drugs be taken at night, but doubt has been cast on whether that is the best time. Researchers found when patients switched from taking their nighttime pill to the morning, there were significant increases in total cholesterol and LDL, or the bad, cholesterol. Researchers write Simvastatin is probably best taken at night because concentrations of total cholesterol and of low density lipoprotein are significantly greater when it is taken in the morning. This finding has implications for compliance in preventing coronary heart disease.

SOURCE: British Medical Journal, 2003;327:788

  Fat & Stroke Risk!

Fat Intake not Related to Stroke Risk                                                                                                 Back to top

New research shows patients who consume large amounts of fat and have high dietary cholesterol levels are not more likely to suffer a stroke. Researchers from the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston studied more than 43,500 men between ages 40 and 75. Patients were given a survey that asked questions about diet, lifestyle habits, and medical history. Researchers followed the patients for 14 years. Men who were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or diabetes were excluded from the study. Results of the study show 725 cases of strokes were reported among the men. After adjusting for risk factors and other demographics, researchers found no association between intakes of total fat, animal fat, vegetable fat, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, or trans-unsaturated fat and the risk of stroke. They also say cholesterol levels were not a factor. In addition, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids were not linked to stroke risk.

SOURCE: British Medical Journal, 2003;327:777-781

              SQUARE's New Products                                  Back to top

            Product                                    Moxaclav 625 Tablet
            Generic Name                         Amoxicillin BP + Clavulanic Acid USP
            Strength                                  500 mg + 125 mg
            Dosage form                           Tablet
            Therapeutic Category           Antibiotic      

            Product                                     Moxacil Forte Suspention
            Generic Name                          Amoxicillin Trihydrate BP
            Strength                                   250 mg/5 ml
            Dosage form                            Suspension
            Therapeutic Category            Antibiotic  

            Product                                     Trispray Nasal Spray
            Generic Name                          Triamcenolone Acetonide BP
            Strength                                   55 mcg/ actuation
            Dosage form                            Nasal Spray
            Therapeutic Category            Intranasal Corticosteroid