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'Worrying Link' Between Ketamine Use And Severe Bladder Problems
Medical experts have warned of a "worrying link" between ketamine use and serious bladder and kidney problems.
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Fish Protein Link To Controlling High Blood Pressure, New Study
Medical scientists at the University of Leicester are investigating how a species of fish from the Pacific Ocean could help provide answers to tackling chronic conditions such as hereditary high blood pressure and kidney disease.
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HIV/AIDS, Gay Rights Advocate McFarlane Dies
Rodger McFarlane, a leader in gay rights and HIV/AIDS advocacy efforts, died on Friday in New Mexico at age 54, the New York Times reports. According to McFarlane"s brother, John, he committed suicide. In a letter, McFarlane wrote that he did not want to become further debilitated by heart and back problems, the Times reports. McFarlane was the director of the Gay Men"s Health Crisis from 1982 to 1985, and served as the executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS from 1989 to 1994. He also served as president of the HIV/AIDS and housing organization Bailey House, and from 2004 to 2008 was the executive director of the Gill Foundation in Denver. "AIDS pointed to the inequitable status of gays," McFarlane said in the Times in 1983, adding, "We were forced to take care of ourselves because we learned that if you have certain diseases, certain lifestyles, you can"t expect the same services as other parts of society" (Hevesi, New York Times, 5/19). Tim Sweeney, president of the Gill Foundation, said in a statement, "We will eternally be in his debt as a result of his many, lasting contributions" (AP/Google.com, 5/18).
Oncology

1/4 Of Patients On Highest Investigational Doses Of CP-690,550 Achieve ACR70 At Week 12

A quarter of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving either 10mg (24.6%) or 15mg (28.1%) twice daily of the investigational oral JAK-3 (janus-associated kinase) inhibitor CP-690,550 (CP) achieved ACR70* after 12 weeks, according to the results of a new study presented at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark. The primary outcome for the study was ACR20*, with 75.4% of patients achieving this measure at 12 weeks for both 10mg and 15mg doses. The study also showed that, comparatively, the ACR70* responses for adalimumab (ADA, a monoclonal antibody and anti-TNF) and placebo, were 3.8% and 5.1% respectively at the same follow up point. At the 12 week interim analysis, three doses (5mg, 10mg and 15mg twice daily) of CP demonstrated statistical superiority to placebo in nearly all clinical outcomes measured, including: ACR20, HAQ-DI** and DAS28***, in patients who had had a previously inadequate response to a DMARD (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug). Of patients receiving 15mg twice daily CP, 75.4% achieved ACR20 and 40.4% reached DAS28 remission; compared with 47.2% of ADA and 28.8% of placebo patients for ACR20; and 4.4% of ADA and 6.7% of placebo patients for DAS28 remission respectively. Dr Roy Fleischmann, Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Texas, Dallas, USA who led the study, said: "The development of oral small-molecule JAK inhibitors, such as CP which targets the JAK-1/3 enzyme pathway, represents a new approach in the treatment of RA. These drugs offer the potential for more precise targeting than existing oral DMARD treatments, in addition to a more convenient oral administration than biologic treatments. The results of this study would suggest that the compound appears worthy for future phase III investigation." In the 6-month double-blind phase IIb dose-ranging study, 384 patients were randomised to various trial doses of oral CP: 1mg, 3mg, 5mg, 10mg and 15mg twice daily; or to ADA 40mg subcutaneous injection every other week for 12 weeks followed by CP 5mg twice daily or placebo. The most frequently-reported CP treatment-emergent all-cause AEs were urinary tract infections (4.4%), diarrhoea (4.0%), bronchitis (3.7%), and headache (3.7%). Most frequently-reported ADA treatment-emergent all-cause AEs were bronchitis and pruritus (5.7% each), and blood creatinine increase, dizziness, headache, influenza, nausea, rash, and swelling (3.8% each). The inclusion criteria for the study were as follows: patients with active RA (6 tender joints and 6 swollen joints (66/68 joint count)), and CRP (c-reactive protein) >7 mg/dL or ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) > ULN). 87% of the 384 patients who were randomised to receive a study drug were female, with mean baseline value ranges as follows: age 52.4 - 55.1 years; disease duration 7.7 - 11.0 years; HAQ DI 1.4 - 1.6; DAS28-3 (CRP) 5.4 - 5.6; and 70 - 83% RF positive. The data presented at EULAR are taken from a week 12 interim analysis of the 6-month study and include efficacy and safety assessments taken at weeks: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. The HAQ-DI response was classified as a 0.22 unit improvement from baseline, and DAS28 remission was set at DAS28-3 (CRP) achieving


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