The rest of the Avastin story and The Myth of Vitamin E

Avastin .. as noted here yesterday- got the thumbs down from an FDA advisory panel . .and usually the full FDA follows that lead.

The panel said, bottom line, whatever little good came of Avastin for treating metastatic breast cancer was outweighed by the toxicities associated with it .. and there was no apparent increase in overall survival.

btw - avastin is approved for treating colon and lung cancer.

Onto Vitamin E ..

seems articles still touting the benefits of vitamin E ( cardiovascular benefits) are quoting old and out of date findings .. findings that have in fact been disproved. That's the take home from research done at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
A major study called the HOPE study done in 2000 refuted earlier claims of any benefit.
the new report says " This trend wastes time, effort, and money and can "also perpetuate a literature of false impressions that can affect future scientific efforts by providing a misleading starting base," said Dr. Ioannidis and colleagues. They did not cite the offending journals by name. '

AVASTIN FOR BREAST CANCER - THUMBS DOWN

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 5 -- By a one vote margin FDA advisors have recommended that bevacizumab (Avastin) not be approved for treatment of breast cancer.This is a developing story.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/

Holiday Headaches // Bedwetting Drug Warning

Holidays are here and that means the alcoholic beverages will be flowing ..
Besides the blanket warning about not drinking and driving . .the National Headache Foundation has a host of info about drinking and headaches and how to stay healthy.
check it out at http://www.headaches.org/

And parents - make note of this warning about a drug used to treat bed wetting in kids. It can be a killer.

The INTRANASAL formulations of DEMOPRESSIN ACETATE should NOT be used for primary nocturnal enuresis according to an FDA warning issued on 12/5/07.

The FDA says there were 61 cases of seizures caused by a the drug and 2 deaths.

The problem the drug causes is called HYPONATREMIA .. and that causes the seizures and death. Hyponatremia occurs because the drug is an anti-diuretic, meaning it helps a person keep their 'water' . . the drug prevents excessive water loss in urine. Combine that with excessive fluid consumption and the body has too much fluid and an imbalance of sodium. It's the same problem that can affect distance runners who run slowly and take in too much fluid.

If your child is taking this drug .. talk with their pediatrician.

Fibromyalgia

Had breakfast with an old friend the other day. She mentioned her fibromyalgia was better controlled. She's been dealing with the disease for more than 15 years and it's taken it's toll: the deep muscle pain, the lack of sleep. She's on a new medication that's helping.
With that in mind I came across a listing of clinical trials for new drugs aimed at alleviating the disabling symptoms of Fibromyalgia. So if you're interested, you might want to check this out. I have no idea the specifics, I make no recommendations . . just sharing some info.


Trial Information
Summary: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Safety and Efficacy Study of Xyrem (sodium oxybate) in Subjects with Fibromyalgia
For more information,
Contact:Suzanne Alterman, RN, BSN, CCRCUpstate Clinical Research, LLC3 Atrium Drive, Suite 205Albany, NY 12205Telephone: 518-533-1546Email:
salterman@upstateneurology.com
Profile Page: Upstate Clinical Research, LLC, Albany, NY