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FDA Approves Bupivacaine Extended-Release Liposome Injection (Exparel) for Postoperative Pain

December 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

New long-acting nonopioid anesthetic/analgesic for postsurgical pain by US Food and Drug Administration. The drug is bupivacaine extended-release liposome injection (Exparel, Pacira Pharmaceuticals).

Exparel consists of bupivacaine encapsulated in the multivesicular liposome DepoFoam [Pacira Pharmaceutical's extended drug-delivery technology].

The new product is designed to extend the duration of analgesia provided by bupivacaine. Exparel provides continuous and extended postsurgical analgesia for up to 72 hours compared with bupivacaine’s analgesic time of 7 hours.

The new drug is expected to reduce the dependence on opioid use in the postoperative setting.

Filed Under: Drugs, News Tagged With: , ,

VoyantLink – Cloud Based Software For Image Sharing And Clinical Planning Announced By Brainlab

December 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Brainlab has announced the VoyantLink, a cloud-based image sharing platform for clinicians, hospitals, and imaging centers.

The above software platform can also be used for patient exaination, planning and templating and other clinical applications.

The software enables users to send, receive, share, and save images. Furthermore, it also offers live collaboration and data enrichment. In planning applications digital templating, mobile applications, workflow automation, dose review, dose planning, and image fusion can be achieved. [Read more...]

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H1N1/MRSA Coinfection Increases The Death Risk in Children

November 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

An n 8-fold increased mortality rate among children with coinfection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and H1N1 has been observed in a study published online October 17 in Pediatrics.

The possible explanation is the viral assault compromising immunity and the bacterial infection destroying lung tissue.

A significant number of previously healthy children developed severe pneumonia and respiratory failure when infected with H1N1 influenza during the 2009 pandemic.

It is of concern because community-acquired MRSA in children is becoming more prevalent and H1N1 is still in circulation. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Child Health, News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Risk Factors For Stroke Also Predict Cognitive Decline

November 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A new study published in  November 8 issue of Neurology shows that known risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure and diabetes also increase  increase the risk for incident cognitive impairment. this holds true even for those who have never had a stroke.

The authors have stressed upon the importance of early intervention to treat high blood pressure to preserve cognitive health.

It appears that the total Stroke Risk Profile score, is also useful in determining the risk of cognitive problems. [Read more...]

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A Small Trial Shows Gantenerumab Effective In Reducing Brain Amyloid in Alzheimer’s Disease

October 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Treatment with gantenerumab, an anti–amyloid-β monoclonal antibody, results in a dose-dependent reduction in brain amyloid in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, a small trial shows.

However the study found no  effects on cognitive measures and doubts whether any reduction in brain amyloid level will translate into clinical efficacy.

Findings  were reported online October 10 in the Archives of Neurology. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Neurological Diseases, News Tagged With: , , ,

Premature Birth Is A High Risk For Epilepsy Even In Adulthood

October 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Prematurely born babies have a very high risk for epilepsy, not only at age 5 or 6, but as young adults in their 20s and 30s. the fact has been pointed by a recent cohort  study from Sweden led by Casey Crump, MD.

The study found that people who were born very preterm [23 to 31 weeks of gestation] had a 5-fold increased risk for epilepsy at the ages of 25 to 37 years when compared those  who were born full-term.

The study has been published in the October issue of Neurology. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Neurological Diseases, News Tagged With: , , ,

Frequent Use of Aspirin Associated With Early Aging Macula Disorder

October 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Frequent use of aspirin is associated with early and late aging macula disorder (AMD). The risks for those problems appear to be linked to how often aspirin is consumed.

A study of nearly 4691 European patients aged 65 years or older  published online September 13 in Ophthalmology has published these findings.

Dr. de Jong and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional, population-based study using structured interviews to assess aspirin use and AMD in 4691 people living in 7 European countries – Norway, Estonia, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, and Spain. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Eye Diseases, News Tagged With: , , ,

What Is Sipuleucel-T

October 7, 2011 By 1 Comment

Sipuleucel-T [APC8015], is a therapeutic cancer vaccine for prostate cancer. It has been approved by the FDA on April 29, 2010 as an autologous cellular immunotherapy for the treatment of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castrate resistant (hormone refractory) prostate cancer. It is made by Dendereon corporation by name of provenge.

The therapy is prepared specifically for each patient. It has been found to extend survival by about 4 months in advanced metastatic cancer of prostate.

Sipuleucel-T is an immunostimulant. As of 2011, there are two approved preventive vaccines which prevent the cancer-causing viruses human papillomavirus and hepatitis B virus. [Read more...]

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Beutler, Hoffmann,Steinman Get Noble Prize In Medicine

October 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Nobel prize for medicine has been awarded to 3 scientists whose work about the immune system is of paramount importance in understanding of prevention and treatment of infection, inflammatory diseases, and cancer.

Dr Bruce Butler

Dr Bruce Butler

One half of the prize has been awarded to Bruce Beutler, MD, and Jules Hoffmann, PhD for discovering receptor proteins that can spot bacteria and other microorganisms and then activate the body’s innate immunity to defend itself. [Read more...]

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Even Mild Cognitive Decline Predicts Early Death

September 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Even mild cognitive impairment has a strong independent impact on life expectancy, a study of  3957 older adults has revealed.

Mild and moderate to severe cognitive impairment at baseline was associated with an increased risk for death over roughly the next decade after controlling for other mortality risk factors.

The study has been  published in the September 6 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health, News Tagged With: , , ,
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