Health Highlights: May 6, 2009
May 7 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:
Sebelius Wants Nurses on 'Front Line' of Health-Care Reform
Addressing members of the United Nurses of America union in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said nurses should be in the forefront of health-care reform and said that $50 million in economic stimulus legislation would be available for states to prevent patients and health-care workers from getting infections while in hospitals.
Calling nurses the "pulse" of health care, Sebelius said, "If health care reform is to be a reality, we need you at the front line," the Wall Street Journal reported. It was the newly confirmed health secretary's first speech before a union. United Nurses of America, a branch of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), has more than 60,000 members, the Journal reported.
Sebelius also told the nurses' group that about half a billion dollars in the stimulus bill is earmarked for education programs for students looking to become nurses. The secretary also said that the swine flu outbreak now appeared to be less severe than originally thought, according to the newspaper.
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FDA OKs Avastin as Brain Cancer Tumor Treatment
It had been more than 10 years since a new treatment for glioblastoma was approved, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday granted accelerated approval for the cancer drug Avastin for use against the aggressive brain cancer tumors, Business Week reports.
Avastin, developed by Genentech, which in March was bought by Switzerland-based Roche, is already approved as treatment for various forms of colon, breast and lung cancers, Business Week said. The FDA go-ahead was based on the drug's ability to achieve a partial or complete response in clinical trials, although Genentech said there is currently no data showing it reduces symptoms or improves survival. The company said it is planning a late stage trial of Avastin as a treatment for newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
About 10,000 people in the United States have glioblastoma -- the same type of tumor Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., has been fighting -- and the tumors often recur even after initial treatment, Genentech said in a news release, Business Week reported.
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FDA Backs Drug That Controls Blood Sugar Via the Brain
Type 2 diabetics may soon get another tool to control their blood sugar levels in the form of a drug that resets a body clock in the brain that in turn helps control metabolism, the Associated Press reports.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Cycloset, made by VeroScience Inc., of Tiverton, R.I., to treat type 2 diabetes. Cycloset, a new version of an older drug called bromocriptine, is used in higher does to treat Parkinson's disease, the drug maker said in a news release, according to the AP. The new drug targets the bodys dopamine activity, a chemical messenger between nerve cells within the nervous system.
Cycloset is the first drug to gain approval under new FDA guidelines requiring better evidence from drug companies that diabetes treatments are heart-safe, since diabetics are at increased risk for cardiovascular problems, the AP reported. The company said Cycloset can be taken once a day in the morning to control post-meal blood sugar rises all during the day.
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Scientists ID Gene Linked to Artery Plaque Ruptures
A gene that appears to make plaques in arteries more likely to rupture and cause potentially deadly blood clots has been identified by U.S. researchers. The finding may lead to new drugs that target the gene in order to reduce the risk of plaque ruptures.
The Columbia University team said previous research indicated this gene played a role in plaque rupture, but they were surprised to find just how strong an effect the gene has, BBC News reported.
The study was published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
Most people have plaques by the time they're young adults, but most pose no risk to health. However, about 2 percent of plaques have the potential to burst and cause blood clots that can trigger heart attacks or strokes, BBC News reported.
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Researchers Developing Hand-Held HIV Monitoring Device
U.K. researchers are working to develop a hand-held, finger prick blood-testing device that can be used by HIV patients to monitor their condition at home.
The device, similar to ones used by diabetics, will measure HIV levels in order to alert patients about impending flare-ups and tell them if they need to see a doctor, BBC News reported.
By using the device, HIV patients would only need to see their doctor when there's a problem, instead of being checked by their doctor every few months. The device could also provide a rapid and affordable method of monitoring HIV patients in developing nations.
The researchers involved in three-year project will develop a prototype device for clinical trials, BBC News reported.
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Workouts Benefit Lung Cancer Patients: Study
Exercise may improve the health and quality of life of patients with advanced or incurable lung cancer, says a Massachusetts General Hospital study.
It included 25 patients who did twice-weekly sessions of aerobics and weight-training for 8 weeks. Each session lasted from 90 minutes to 120 minutes, United Press International reported.
Fewer than half the patients were able to complete the hospital-based exercise program, but those who did showed a significant reduction in lung cancer symptoms and maintained their scores in walking and muscle strength tests.
The study was published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.