Medical Portal

WebMD informs that nicotinic dependence vaccine, created by Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, has successfully passed clinical trials.

The preparation appeared to be effective enough as vaccine NicVAX is based on stimulation of antibodies development, which binds molecules of nicotine in blood. Nicotine, as it is, can not overcome hematoencephalic barrier and penetrate into brain tissues that makes smoking less attractive.

In the research, conducted in nine medical centers in various cities of USA, participated about three hundred smokers who for six months have been given four or five injections of this vaccine (one group) or placebo (the second group).

During this treatment and in the following 6 months participants of an experiment were constantly observed by physicians. For this period gave up smoking 16 % from the group, which was given big dozes of a vaccine, 14 more % of volunteers, who were given lower dozes of vaccine, and only 6 % from the control group, who took placebo.

In the nearest future American scientists are going to conduct more tests to reveal side-effects.

Turkish scientists for the first time in the world have created a medicine which stops any bleeding within several minutes.

The medication, which becomes irreplaceable means for treatment of hemophilia, also became the first local medicine, licensed by Turkish Ministry of Health.

The unique medicine is created on the basis of a mix of various plants: nettles, licorice, thyme, and grapevine. It, as it is informed, can be applied for treatment of other serious illnesses, in particular diabetes.

The recipe of medication for hemophilia Turkish physicians have developed on the basis of the ancient formula. They are going to tell in detail about the opening in British medical magazine International British Journal.

Preparation Topamax widely used as means from a migraine and epilepsy, can help with alcoholism treatment, is said in the results of the researches published in Journal of the American Medical Association.

371 patients with alcoholic dependence have participated in an experiment. Researches have shown that taking of the drug in the beginning of hard drinking reduces both duration of it, and amount of daily used alcoholic drinks.

The basic side-effects from use of the given drug are abnormality of attention, unpleasant feelings on a skin and change of taste.

At the same time scientists do not reveal the mechanism of drug’s action and are not sure yet in the most effective way of its application.

FDA experts have recognized Prexige produced by Novartis AG unsuitable for sale in the USA. This decision was not unexpected - recently this preparation has been withdrawn from sale in Australia in connection with possible influence on liver.

Now this preparation is sold in Europe; experts consider, that there it will not be withdrawn from the market in the foreseeable future. In USA Novartis plans to continue negotiations with FDA. Representatives of the company declare, that Prexige - «is a valuable preparation for treatment of pains at patients with osteoarthritis, who do not have contra-indications».

In Australia the preparation has been withdrawn from the market after eight registered cases of the serious side-effects connected to influence of the medicine on liver. In two cases patients died, in two more liver had to be grafted.

Prexige is allowed to sale in 50 countries of the world. For first half of this year its sale have made 52 million dollars. In its time the company hoped for the greater commercial success of a preparation.

Last month Novartis has informed the European doctors on new contra-indications to the treatment. Prexige now is not recommended for the patients, who suffer from diseases of liver, and who had similar diseases earlier, and also to patients who take other preparations influencing liver.

Experts from Hong Kong have conducted research and found out, that some “natural” and “herbal” means for weight decrease contain non-authorized and non-studied components.
The question is about substances which are slightly changed or not changed analogues of forbidden medicines for growing thin. These components are not registered by manufacturers.
The article placed in last issue of the “Hong Kong Medical Magazine» tells about 42 patients who got in hospital from September, 2004 till December, 2006 as a result of taking “natural” products for growing thin.
«Chemical analogues of medicines are similar to different virus strains - they can be harmless, and can be fatal. If you buy a medicine of not clear origin in the Internet, it is very dangerous», - say Tony Mak, one of the authors of the research.
Official medicines prior to get on drugstores’ counters are studied for about 10 years while biological additives frequently are not exposed to any researches.
Authors of the work explain that manufacturers of bioadditives do not use full analogues of the forbidden or controllable chemical substances as it is legally punishable. However no herbs by itself can make the person svelte, therefore manufacturers change chemical structure of the substances which influence the weight.

Janiv Linda from the Jerusalem University has developed a preparation (and an original method of its synthesis) which gives the hungry person feeling of satiety and a full stomach.
The novelty is designated for as an auxiliary means for people passionately dreaming to grow thin, but constantly interested to have a bite.
Synthesized peptide chain is named BL-3020 perfectly passes through a wall of intestines and gets in blood. Then the given substance plies in bloodstream and, eventually, gets on receptors called MC4R in a brain.
Here BL-3020 simulates the action of hormone aMSH which is developed during the meal and which causes that very feeling of satiety.
During the experiments with mice scientists found out, that the only taking of BL-3020 leads to decrease in consumption of food during a day. After 12 days of daily taking of a preparation, experimental mice weighed 40 % less, than “control” mice of the same age.
Peptide is patented in Europe and the USA, and now Israeli company Bioline RX which has received the technology from university, is engaged in commercialization of the given project.

The antibiotic used for treatment of serious infections, resistant to other antibiotics, can cause even more grave condition, a thrombocytopenia.
The main point of a condition is that together with massive not stopped bleedings, it causes reduction of thrombocytes, which help to stop bleedings.
Vancomycin is an antibiotic which is used for about 30 years and which is irreplaceable at treatment of serious infections which are too tough for other antibiotics. However, together with strong antimicrobial action it is able to cause serious side effects, such as hearing loss and damage of kidneys.
Senior researcher of Тhe Blood Center of Wisconsin’s Blood Research Institute, Wisconsin, the USA, Doctor Richard Aster, considers nevertheless, that results of work should not be an obstacle to an assignment of an antibiotic when it is the last hope in struggle against an infection.
Before the assignment of a preparation experts advise to take consultation with hematologist and to discuss with him an opportunity of the preparation assignment.

In Russia each third call of the “ambulance” is connected to drugs overdose. According to TASS, that was informed by Alexander Mikhajlov, the head of Interdepartmental and informational Activity Department of the Federal Service on drugs control during the round table on April, 10.
According to Mikhajlov, official statistics says, that more than 8 thousand people annually die in Russia because of drugs. At the same time, according to doctors, every year “ambulance” drive to people suffering drugs overdose for 100 thousand times that makes 30 percent from all calls.
State official has noted also, that youth remains the basic target group of a drug mafia in Russia, and drugs are distributed basically among “rebelliously incited young people “. For this reason, Mikhajlov considers, that Russian youth need creation of ‘’a new, youth subculture, alternative to drugs “.

An experimental drug is the first which may substantially and safely improve shortness of breath and other symptoms of severe heart attack, a growing epidemic, according to doctors report.
However, many were really upset that this medicine did not help people live longer or stay out of the hospital.
Heart attack occurs when the heart muscle weakens over time and can no longer pump the blood effectively. Fluid can back up into the lungs and people stay panicked and gasping for breath.
About 5 million Americans have this disease. It kills more than 300,000 and nearly one million hospitalizations each year. Current treatments either do not cause needed effect or lead to kidney damage or loss of essential body salts called electrolytes.
The new drug, tolvaptan, is a first-of-its-kind medication that blocks a hormone responsible for fluid retention. It was tested on 4,133 severely ill patients throughout North and South America and Europe. Ten months later it significantly improved breathing and reduced swelling and weight because it promoted so much fluid loss.
Tolvaptan’s maker is Japan Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. The company plans to ask the federal Food and Drug Administration to approve the drug sometime this year.

According to a new British study, alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous than some illegal drugs.
Professor David Nutt of Britain’s Bristol University and colleagues proposed a new framework for the classification of harmful substances, based on the actual risks to society. Among the top 10 most dangerous substances are alcohol and tobacco.
Nutt and his colleagues used three factors to determine the harm associated with any drug: the physical harm to the user, the potential of drug addiction, and the impact on society. Nutt and his colleagues then calculated the drugs’ overall rankings. In the end, the experts agreed with each other — but not with the existing British classification of dangerous substances.
Heroin and cocaine appeared to be the most dangerous, followed by barbiturates and street methadone. Alcohol was the fifth-most harmful drug and tobacco the ninth most harmful. Cannabis came in 11th, and near the bottom of the list was Ecstasy.
According to existing British and U.S. law alcohol and tobacco are legal, when cannabis and Ecstasy are both illegal.
Tobacco causes 40 percent of all illnesses, while alcohol is blamed for more than half of all visits to doctors. The substances also harm society in other ways, damaging families and occupying police services.
Nutt hopes that the research will cause debate within the community about how drugs — including socially acceptable drugs such as alcohol — should be regulated.
While experts agreed that wide use of alcohol and tobacco would be challenging, they said that governments should review the penalties imposed for drug.