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Healthcare online Keeping you up-to-date
VOL.  5     ISSUE:  5    May 29, 2007 Medical Services Department

SQUARE Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

EDITORIAL

Dear Doctor,

Welcome to this edition of 'e-SQUARE'. Hope you are enjoying this online healthcare bulletin.

Our current issue focused on some interesting features like -

"High WBC Boost Death !", "Yearly Injection For Osteoporosis !", "Adults Need Pertussis Vaccines !", "Excess TV Harms Teens",
 "Salt Increases Ulcer Risks !", "iPods Skips Heart Beat !".

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

We will appreciate 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.
 High WBC Boost Death !

 The Risk Of Mortality Increases Progressively With Increased White Blood Cell Count

A team of Italian and American researchers said, people with above-normal white blood cell counts could face an increase risk of death at an earlier age, particularly from cardiovascular diseases. Individuals on the high end of the normal range are also at an increased risk of illness and death. The researchers included more than 2000 men and women in a multi-decade study where leukocyte count, BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol levels were calculated. Analysis of death record revealed that, those participants who died during the study period had a higher WBC counts that those who survived. However, death risk varied even within the normal range. Those who had high normal leukocyte count of 6,000 to 10,000 had a 30-40% higher death risk than those with low normal count of 3,500 to 6,000. The authors also observed that, patient’s death risk rose by just over 10% with every additional 1,000 cells above the lowest end of normal range. The findings are interesting but do not suggest any specific screening or treatment. As no specific cause and effect link between higher white blood cells and illness risk is confirmed, experts said it is too early to make any changes in practice based on the findings.
SOURCE: HealthDay, May 4, 2007

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 Yearly Injection For Osteoporosis !

Once-A-Year Infusion Of Zoledronic Acid Effectively Reduce Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

The common dilemma most postmenopausal women face is fractures and disability following osteoporosis and the costs of medical treatment associated with it. However, drugs that inhibit osteoclast mediated bone resorption and reduce fractures are already in the world market. Bisphosphonates, such as oral alendronate and risedronate, are effective in reducing osteoporosis but not without adverse effects. Adherence to oral treatment is problematic because of gastrointestinal side effects, such as acid reflux and esophageal damage. Thus most of the elderly patients compel to discontinue medication after one year compromising effectiveness against fracture prevention.  A recent study showed that treatment with zoledronic acid was very effective in reducing the incidence of all types of fractures in women. During the 3 year-long study, there was 70% risk reduction in vertebral fracture and 40% risk reduction in case of hip fractures. A single infusion of intravenous zoledronic acid was also effective to decrease bone turnover and improve bone density for at least 12 months after infusion. The researchers claimed that once yearly treatment with intra-venous zoledronic acid will definitely benefit elderly postmenopausal women who forget to take regular oral medication or simply discontinue treatment for side effects.

SOURCE:  EurekAlert, May 2, 2007

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 Adults Need Pertussis Vaccines !

Infants Acquire Pertussis From Adult Family Members And Close Contacts

Introduction of pertussis vaccination has reduced the number of whooping cough cases in developed countries by 95%. However, incidence of infant pertussis in recent years has tripled in the past two decades, even with widespread vaccination coverage. Infants too young to have completed their DPT vaccination suffer majority of pertussis related complications including death. By vaccinating close contacts, herd immunity is established to protect infants. This strategy, first introduced by France in 1998, was followed by Germany, Canada, Australia, Japan and other European countries. To validate the result of adult vaccination, recent studies were conducted in several countries including France, Germany, United States and Canada. The study shows that transmission from household members is responsible for 73 to 82 percent of pertussis cases in children. Among them, parents (55.1%), siblings (16.3%), aunts/uncles (10.2%), friends/cousins (10.2%) comprises major source of pertussis transmission in infants. Part time caretakers only accounts for 2.0% of the primary cases. The study exemplify vaccination of adults in close contacts with young infants may help eliminating pertussis in the long run.
SOURCE: Reuters Health, May 1, 2007

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 Excess TV Harms Teens

Too Much Television Puts Teens At Risk For Learning Problem

Teens who watch television for three or more hours a day may have risk of attention and learning difficulties in their adolescent and early adult life. On an average children and teenagers in developed countries watch television programs for two hours or more. Researchers in America studied 678 families in New York where they interviewed offsprings aged 14, 16, and 22 years about television habits and school problems. According to the study 33.2 percent of the teenagers watched three or more hours of TV a day when they were 14 years old. The research showed that this was associated with problems including an increased risk of attention problems, being bored at school, poor homework completion, achieving poor results, and ultimately ensuing overall academic failure. The scientist anticipated watching too much entertainment programs in television takes away time for reading and doing homework resulting in learning problems. The authors encouraged teens to spend less hours watching TV to prevent attention and learning problems and at the same time to look forward engaging other activities such as athletics, music or arts to prevent such problems.
SOURCE: Ivanhoe Newswire, May 8, 2007

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 Salt Increases Ulcer Risks !

High Salt Diet May Increase The Risk Of Developing Gastric And Duodenal Ulcers

Researchers have proved virulence of Helicobacter pylori increases at high concentration of salt in the stomach resulting from induction of gene activity. Previous studies have shown, there is connection between food composition and Helicobacter pylori infections. Epidemiological evidence of high occurrence of gastro-intestinal complications by H. pylori in high salt concentrations has led the researchers to find out the cause. In vitro experiments showed that bacterial cells exposed to increased salt exhibited morphological changes including elongation of cells and formation of long chains ultimately resulting in defected cell division. They also discovered that two genes responsible for the virulence of H. pylori increased it’s transcription in high salt concentrations. Also some virulent genes may alter expression patterns increasing the severity of the disease. Helicobacter pylori is responsible for 90% of duodenal ulcer and 80% of gastric ulcers in developed countries. Although not all infections will end up in ulcer formation, there are chances of producing other severe complications such as gastritis, lymphoma or gastric cancer.
SOURCE: EurekAlert, May 22, 2007

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 iPods Skips Heart Beat !

Portable Music Players May Cause Pacemakers To Malfunction

Listening to songs in a portable music player can be relaxing only if someone doesn’t have a pacemaker installed. Scientist has warned cardiac patients with a pacemaker not to use a portable music player device such as iPod. According to scientists in Michigan, these popular devices can cause pacemakers to malfunction in half of the patients. The researchers held an iPod two inches from the chest of 83 patients for 5 to 10 seconds. As a result telemetric interference occurred in 29 percent of the patients and in another 20 percent, pacemakers misread the heart’s function. Alarmingly, in one patient it stopped the pacemaker from working. The study also found that even as far as 18 inches from the chest, some interference may still occur. Several other devices such as cell phones, electrical appliances, microwave ovens and high tension wires have shown to produce identical effects. The problem with interfering pacemaker function is that it stores the history of heart’s rhythm. Not only the physician will be puzzled by reading abnormal cardiac rhythms but also the patients will be treated for conditions that had never occurred to them. And with patients who rely on pacemaker completely, such devices may even stop the heart. Similar effects may also occur in patient with implanted defibrillators. Although cardiac patients, who had installed a pacemaker, are not common iPod users, interference from a nearby user can still cause the problems.
SOURCE: HealthDay, May 10, 2007

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New Products of SQUARE Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
  Product Carbizol®
  Generic Name Carbimazole
  Strength 5 mg Tablet
  Dosage form Tablet
  Therapeutic Category Anti-thyroid preparation
  Product Levocar®
Generic Name

Levocarnitine USP
Strength

Tablet: Each tablet contains Levocarnitne USP 330 mg

Solution: Each 5 ml solution contains Levocarnitine USP 500 mg
Dosage form Tablet & Solution
Therapeutic Category Other Cardiac Products
  Product Zimax ® 30 ml powder for suspension
  Generic Name Azithromycin USP
  Strength

200 mg/5 ml
  Dosage form Powder for suspension
  Therapeutic Category Macrolides and similar type

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