Davos Life Science (DavosLife) has announced preliminary results of a phase I clinical trial of its Natural e3 delta-tocotrienol (Natural e3) in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer.

Tocotrienols are highly potent members of the Vitamin E family that have been found by researchers to inhibit the growth and survival of various types of cancer cells. This clinical trial revealed that Natural e3 was able to increase apoptosis (cell death) in pancreatic cancer tumours, with no toxicity. The study was carried out by researchers at The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Florida, United States, and supported by DavosLife and by the U.S. National Institute of Health. This data was presented by the Moffitt Cancer Center at the recent American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting.

For a period of 2 weeks prior to surgery, 12 subjects received Natural e3, with 3 subjects at each dose level of 200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg and 800 mg per day. This oral treatment occurred pre-surgery to examine the effect of Natural e3 on the resected pancreatic cancer tumour. To assess for toxicity, blood samples were collected pre-dose on day 1, day 8, on the day of the patients’ surgery and 3-6 weeks post-surgery. This trial occurred between October 2009 and August 2010. Read the rest of this entry »


Study suggests new therapeutic targets for virally-induced asthma attacks

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: May 30,2011

When children with asthma get the flu, they often land in the hospital gasping for air. Researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston have found a previously unknown biological pathway explaining why influenza induces asthma attacks. Studies in a mouse model, published online May 29 by the journal Nature Immunology, reveal that influenza activates a newly recognized group of immune cells called natural helper cells – presenting a completely new set of drug targets for asthma.

If activation of these cells, or their asthma-inducing secretions, could be blocked, asthmatic children could be more effectively protected when they get the flu and possibly other viral infections, says senior investigator Dale Umetsu, M.D., Ph.D., of Children’s Division of Immunology.

Although most asthma is allergic in nature, attacks triggered by viral infection tend to be what put children in the hospital, reflecting the fact that this type of asthma isn’t well controlled by existing drugs.

“Virtually 100 percent of asthmatics get worse with a viral infection,” says Umetsu. “We really didn’t know how that happened, but now we have an explanation, at least for influenza.” Read the rest of this entry »


Active Baby Boomers Fuel Demand for Long Lasting Joint Replacements

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: May 29,2011

“The number of patients in their 50s coming into my office asking for joint replacement is higher than ever,” says Dr. Steven B. Haas, a knee surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

At Special Surgery, where more knee replacements and hip surgeries are performed than at any other hospital in the nation, doctors are looking at what happens when their patients go back to the sports they love. To meet the growing need, Hospital for Special Surgery orthopedists like Dr. Haas have collaborated on new devices with more wear-resistant materials so patients in their 50s may not have to worry that a new knee will wear out before they will.

“Joint replacement used to be about doing the things you needed to do — literally, being able to walk. Now, younger patients are coming and saying, ‘I want to continue playing tennis, skiing, golfing, or coaching little league and don’t want to be sidelined by pain or disability,’” says Dr. Haas, who is chief of the knee service at Hospital for Special Surgery.  Earlier this year, he presented the outcomes of his research on a newer knee design and showed that most patients can comfortably perform these activities.  Additionally, the FDA has recently approved an implant referred to as the “30-year knee,” which was based on tests simulating 30 years of use. Read the rest of this entry »


Heart Failure Risk Lower in Women Who Often Eat Baked/Broiled Fish

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: May 27,2011

The risk of developing heart failure was lower for postmenopausal women who frequently ate baked or broiled fish, but higher for those who ate more fried fish, in a study reported in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.

In a large-scale analysis, women who ate the most baked/broiled fish (five or more servings/week) had a 30 percent lower risk of heart failure compared to women who seldom ate it (less than one serving/month).

Previous research has found that fatty acids (omega-3) in fish — EPA, DHA and ALA — may lower risk of cardiovascular disease by decreasing inflammation, resisting oxidative stress and improving blood pressure, cardiac and blood vessel function.

This study showed that they type of fish and cooking method may affect heart failure risk.  The researchers found that dark fish (salmon, mackerel and bluefish) were associated with a significantly greater risk reduction than either tuna or white fish (sole, snapper and cod).

In a similar analysis, eating fried fish was associated with increased heart failure risk. Even one serving a week was associated with a 48 percent higher heart failure risk.

“Not all fish are equal, and how you prepare it really matters,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, M.D., Sc.M., senior author of the study. “When you fry fish, you not only lose a lot of the benefits, you likely add some things related to the cooking process that are harmful.”

Other research has shown that frying increases the trans fatty acid (TFA) content of foods, which is associated with increasing risk for heart disease. In this study, however, the researchers did not find an association between TFA and heart failure risk. Read the rest of this entry »


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