SQUARE
e-

SQUARE

  
Healthcare online Keeping you up-to-date
VOL.  4     ISSUE:  5    September 23, 2006 Medical Services Department

SQUARE Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Features

EDITORIAL TEAM

OMAR AKRAMUR RAB

MBBS, FCGP, FIAGP, FRSH (UK)

P G Dip. Business Management

LATIFA NISHAT, MBBS

MAHFUZUR RAHMAN, MBBS

WALIUR RAHMAN, MBBS

EDITORIAL

Dear Doctor:

Welcome to this edition of 'e-SQUARE' healthcare online !

Our current issue focused on some interesting features like "Artificial Heart", "Biomarker For Aging", "Orange Juice Stops Renal Stones", "Cancer Genes Mapped", "NSAIDs Curb Prostate Enlargement", "New Anti-Hypertensives Cut Diabetes", "Foods Make Arthritis Worse".

In our regular feature, we have some new products information of SQUARE Pharmaceuticals Ltd. as well.

Please send us your feedback !

Click on to reply mode.

Yours sincerely,

 

Editorial Team

Reply Mode      : e-square@squaregroup.com

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of its editor or SQUARE PHARMACEUTICALS LTD.
 Artificial Heart !

 FDA Approves First Implantable Artificial Heart

FDA approves first totally implantable artificial heart for patients with advanced heart diseases too ill for a heart transplant. The use of this new heart will be limited to people with severe heart failure who aren’t eligible for a heart transplant and are unlikely to live more than a month. It extended survival for an average of 4.5 months, allowing the patients to spend valuable time with family and friends. The device is a two pound mechanical heart that replaces the patient’s own heart. The heart is monitored by a controller and powered by an internal battery, both implanted in the patient’s abdomen. A power transfer coil powers the system across the skin and recharges the internal battery. The device can only be implanted in 6 feet tall people weighing at least 170 pounds, making it unavailable to most of the women. Experts think this will not supplant heart transplantation from donors, which has many advantages over the artificial heart. However, this will give patients, who do not qualify for traditional heart transplants, an opportunity to improve their quality of life.
SOURCE: HealthDay, 2006.

Return to top
 Biomarker For Aging !

Aging Gene Identified

Medical teams at University of North Carolina, University of Michigan and Harvard University say a gene known for stopping tumor growth may prove beneficial as a biomarker for studies on aging. Researchers studied the gene called ‘p16INK4a’ and found increasing concentration of the gene in older cells. These aged cells worked poorly compared to younger cells and remembered their age even when transferred from old mice to young mice. The studies indicated that certain stem cells lose their ability to divide and replace themselves with age as the expressions of p16INK4a increases. Authors say the gene may provide beneficial as a biomarker for studies on aging.
SOURCE: Ivanhoe, 2006

Return to top
 
 
 Orange Juice Stops Renal Stones !

                                                        Orange Juice Best at Stopping Kidney Stones

An independent study finds that orange juice beats lemonade and other citrus fruit juices in helping to prevent kidney stones. Experts have long known that potassium citrate found in citrus fruit juices can slow renal stone formation. But this study conducted by a team from the University of Texas found that other components can affect the juice’s ability to prevent stones. The lead author states that, the reason might be due to the different constituents of various beverages. Citrate in orange and grapefruit is accompanied by a potassium ion whereas the citrate in lemonade and cranberry juice is accompanied by hydrogen ion. While hydrogen ions counteract the beneficial role of high citrate content, potassium ions do not.
SOURCE: HealthDay, 2006

Return to top
 
 
 Cancer Genes Mapped !

Scientists Map Genetic Codes for Breast and Colon Cancers

U.S. researchers have sequenced the genetic “blueprints” of two major cancer killers. Identifying nearly 200 genes thought responsible for breast and colon cancers, researchers get new insight into these malignancies and lay the foundation for the gene-targeted therapies that may one day cure them. Knowing what has broken inside, there is hope of fixing it. Experts from John Hopkins noted there are quite a bit of differences between the blueprints of different cancer types. Even each individual’s cancer is different. But there are commonalities between breast and colon cancers as well – mutations that affected similar cellular pathways. As more and more is learnt how these genes interact, about pathways and how these genes control processes that occur inside cancer cells, treatment targets can be identified. In future, sensitive nanotechnology would be able to detect tiny cancer-linked proteins produced by aberrant genes and diagnose a cancer long before they are visualized. Drug developers can also target specific genes and their proteins to create treatments that stop a cancer before it can harm the patient.
SOURCE: HealthDay, 2006

Return to top
 
 
 NSAIDs Curb Prostate Enlargement !

Daily Aspirin and Other NSAIDs Help Prevent Enlarged Prostate

Older men who regularly take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help prevent prostate enlargement. A reduction of 50 percent in enlargement and a 35 percent reduction in moderate to severe urinary problems were reported in the study. The Mayo Clinic epidemiologist who led the study said, the drugs may reduce prostate cell growth or increase the natural death of these cells. Another theory credits the drugs’ anti-inflammatory activity. The findings should not be seen as a green signal for men to rush out and start taking painkillers without consulting a doctor, the experts stressed. NSAID in general can have very serious side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding. Many of the men in Mayo clinic study was on low-dose aspirin to protect against heart disease. Decision to use aspirin was based on balancing cardiovascular benefits with the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Currently, cancer is not part of the risk-benefit ratio.
SOURCE: HealthDay, 2006

Return to top
 
 
 New Anti-Hypertensives Cut Diabetes !

New Anti-Hypertensive Drugs Cut Diabetes Risk by One Third

A recent study revealed patients given a mix of modern blood pressure drugs are one-third less likely to develop diabetes than those on older pills. Probability of hypertensive patients to develop diabetes was 08 percent with newer medicines against 11.4 percent of those on older drugs. The study compared a regimen of a beta-blocker and a diuretic with a combination of amlodipine and perindopril. The reason for the difference is largely because beta-blockers restrict blood flow to muscles, making it difficult for the body to metabolize glucose.  Calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors probably also helped positively by dilating blood vessels. The co-chairman of the study said, the findings underlined the limitations of beta-blockers for treating high blood pressure.

SOURCE: Reuters Health, 2006

Return to top
 
 
 Foods Make Arthritis Worse !

Certain Foods Can Make Arthritis Patients Complain

Norwegian researchers report, the production of antibodies to certain food is strikingly increased in the gut of many patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The team investigated blood and intestinal fluid samples of 14 rheumatoid arthritis patients complaining association between food intake and disease severity. They found that systemic and intestinal immune responses were abnormal in many rheumatoid arthritis patients particularly with elevated level of food antibodies in gut secretions. The team identified antibodies to components of milk, eggs, pork and fish. The study concluded there may be physical and immunological explanation for such complaints rather than a mere psychological basis.
SOURCE: Reuters Health, 2006

Return to top
 
 

New Products of SQUARE Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
  Product Anca®
  Generic Name Cefprozil
  Strength

Each 250 mg tablet contains 250 mg Cefprozil

Each 500 mg tablet contains 500 mg Cefprozil

Each 5 ml oral suspension contains 250 ml of Cefprozil
  Dosage form Tablet and oral suspension
  Therapeutic Category Cephalosporin
  Product Zox®
Generic Name Nitazoxanide INN
Strength Each tablet contains 500 mg Nitazoxanide INN
Dosage form Tablet
Therapeutic Category Antiprotozoal
  Product Locular ® 0.2% Eye Drop
  Generic Name Brimonidine Tartrate
  Strength Each ml contains Brimonidine Tartrate 2 mg equivalent to Brimonidine INN 1.32 mg
  Dosage form Opthalmic Solution
  Therapeutic Category Miotics & Antiglaucoma Preparations

Return to top
 

Copyright © 2006 SQUARE Pharmaceuticals Ltd. All rights reserved