News and information about the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (NDB) and arthritis and rheumatology research. Written for NDB participants and anyone with a rheumatic disease.
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Monday, February 28, 2005
You're never too old to exercise
"One of the best ways to ward off health problems as you age is the same as when you're young, health experts say -- exercise....'Exercising is the closest thing to a 'magic bullet,' to ensure longevity and a good quality of life,' says James Blumenthal, a professor of medical psychology at Duke University Medical School, who has conducted a number of studies that link exercise to a drop in depression and a reduced risk of a second heart attack....There is good evidence that older people respond just as well to exercise as younger people do, but most older people don't exercise,'" - from HealthDay
"One of the best ways to ward off health problems as you age is the same as when you're young, health experts say -- exercise....'Exercising is the closest thing to a 'magic bullet,' to ensure longevity and a good quality of life,' says James Blumenthal, a professor of medical psychology at Duke University Medical School, who has conducted a number of studies that link exercise to a drop in depression and a reduced risk of a second heart attack....There is good evidence that older people respond just as well to exercise as younger people do, but most older people don't exercise,'" - from HealthDay
Friday, February 25, 2005
New questions about FDA panel members
"Ten of the 32 government drug advisers who last week endorsed continued marketing of the huge-selling pain pills Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx have consulted in recent years for the drugs' makers, according to disclosures in medical journals and other public records.
If the 10 advisers had not cast their votes, the committee would have voted 12 to 8 that Bextra should be withdrawn and 14 to 8 that Vioxx should not return to the market. The 10 advisers with company ties voted 9 to 1 to keep Bextra on the market and 9 to 1 for Vioxx's return.....Dr. Steven Abramson, a rheumatologist at New York University School of Medicine who was on the panel, has consulted for Pfizer and Novartis. "The F.D.A. is looking for people who understand the science behind these medicines," and such an understanding often results from working with drug makers, he said." - from The The New York Times s - free registration required.
"Ten of the 32 government drug advisers who last week endorsed continued marketing of the huge-selling pain pills Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx have consulted in recent years for the drugs' makers, according to disclosures in medical journals and other public records.
If the 10 advisers had not cast their votes, the committee would have voted 12 to 8 that Bextra should be withdrawn and 14 to 8 that Vioxx should not return to the market. The 10 advisers with company ties voted 9 to 1 to keep Bextra on the market and 9 to 1 for Vioxx's return.....Dr. Steven Abramson, a rheumatologist at New York University School of Medicine who was on the panel, has consulted for Pfizer and Novartis. "The F.D.A. is looking for people who understand the science behind these medicines," and such an understanding often results from working with drug makers, he said." - from The The New York Times s - free registration required.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Illness tied to half of all bankruptcies
"Illness and medical bills contributed to roughly half the personal bankruptcy filings in 2001, affecting as many as 2.2 million Americans, a new Harvard study says. More than 75 percent of the filers had insurance, but many of them lost coverage during their illness, the research shows. The study, which appears in the Feb. 2 issue of Health Affairs, provides a rare -- and stark -- glimpse into the medical causes of bankruptcy in the United States." - from Detroit Free Press
"Illness and medical bills contributed to roughly half the personal bankruptcy filings in 2001, affecting as many as 2.2 million Americans, a new Harvard study says. More than 75 percent of the filers had insurance, but many of them lost coverage during their illness, the research shows. The study, which appears in the Feb. 2 issue of Health Affairs, provides a rare -- and stark -- glimpse into the medical causes of bankruptcy in the United States." - from Detroit Free Press
Friday, February 18, 2005
Panel says 'Don't pull Celebrex'
"The popular painkiller Celebrex significantly raises cardiovascular risks but should be allowed to stay on the market, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel recommended Friday." - from HealthDay
"The popular painkiller Celebrex significantly raises cardiovascular risks but should be allowed to stay on the market, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel recommended Friday." - from HealthDay
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Class effect for Cox-2 inhibitors?
"The maker of Celebrex and Bextra says the two prescription painkillers are safe, even as an official of another company that makes a similar drug says he believes all drugs in the same class may pose heart or stroke problems....Dr. Kenneth M. Verberg, Pfizer vice president for inflammation and immunology, defended Celebrex as safe, though he said there is little data on use of the drug for more than one year. Further long-term testing of Celebrex is needed, he said.....But Dr. Ned S. Braunstein, senior director of Merck Research Laboratories, told the panels that since then studies suggesting similar problems with Celebrex and Bextra have changed his mind. "The data strongly suggest it is a class effect" for all drugs of that type, Braunstein said." - from AP Wire
"The maker of Celebrex and Bextra says the two prescription painkillers are safe, even as an official of another company that makes a similar drug says he believes all drugs in the same class may pose heart or stroke problems....Dr. Kenneth M. Verberg, Pfizer vice president for inflammation and immunology, defended Celebrex as safe, though he said there is little data on use of the drug for more than one year. Further long-term testing of Celebrex is needed, he said.....But Dr. Ned S. Braunstein, senior director of Merck Research Laboratories, told the panels that since then studies suggesting similar problems with Celebrex and Bextra have changed his mind. "The data strongly suggest it is a class effect" for all drugs of that type, Braunstein said." - from AP Wire
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Study: Being active won't worsen fibromyalgia
"Round-the-clock monitoring of exercise levels of people with fibromyalgia showed that they had similar average activity levels as people who don't have chronic pain conditions. In addition, increased physical activity was not associated with a subsequent increase in pain." - from webmd.com
"Round-the-clock monitoring of exercise levels of people with fibromyalgia showed that they had similar average activity levels as people who don't have chronic pain conditions. In addition, increased physical activity was not associated with a subsequent increase in pain." - from webmd.com
Monday, February 14, 2005
FDA Studying Safety of Arthritis Drugs
"Vioxx and other pain-relieving drugs have given many people with chronic pain the chance to resume normal lives. But an increase in heart attacks among users of the popular arthritis drug led the manufacturer to pull it from the market and has cast a shadow over similar medications.
Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration meet this week to see if a balance can be found between benefits from these kinds of prescription drugs and the dangers they may pose." - from Yahoo! Health News
"Vioxx and other pain-relieving drugs have given many people with chronic pain the chance to resume normal lives. But an increase in heart attacks among users of the popular arthritis drug led the manufacturer to pull it from the market and has cast a shadow over similar medications.
Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration meet this week to see if a balance can be found between benefits from these kinds of prescription drugs and the dangers they may pose." - from Yahoo! Health News
Friday, February 11, 2005
Documents give inside look at Merck's Vioxx strategy
"Drug companies routinely try to woo doctors to prescribe or promote their drugs, taking them out to fancy meals, hiring them as speakers, or contributing to medical schools. But the internal Merck documents offer a rare, behind-the-scenes look into the extremes of this process - one that may have blurred the line between legitimate promotion and offering inducements to doctors to prescribe a drug." - from The New York Times - free registration required.
"Drug companies routinely try to woo doctors to prescribe or promote their drugs, taking them out to fancy meals, hiring them as speakers, or contributing to medical schools. But the internal Merck documents offer a rare, behind-the-scenes look into the extremes of this process - one that may have blurred the line between legitimate promotion and offering inducements to doctors to prescribe a drug." - from The New York Times - free registration required.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
American College of Rheumatology president comments on pain medication use
“It is unfortunate that physicians and patients have limited preliminary data, some of it in direct conflict with existing conclusions, causing anxiety that, at this time, cannot be definitively confirmed nor refuted,” stated Dr. Elizabeth Tindall. Because peer-reviewed data and analysis are not available to substantiate the studies' preliminary results, the validity of elevated health risk conclusions are unknown. To address these concerns, the American College of Rheumatology advises physicians to follow the current treatment guidelines and manufacturers' dosage recommendations." from the - American College of Rheumatology
“It is unfortunate that physicians and patients have limited preliminary data, some of it in direct conflict with existing conclusions, causing anxiety that, at this time, cannot be definitively confirmed nor refuted,” stated Dr. Elizabeth Tindall. Because peer-reviewed data and analysis are not available to substantiate the studies' preliminary results, the validity of elevated health risk conclusions are unknown. To address these concerns, the American College of Rheumatology advises physicians to follow the current treatment guidelines and manufacturers' dosage recommendations." from the - American College of Rheumatology
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
What did Pfizer know about Celebrex in 1999?
"Celebrex, the popular arthritis and pain medicine from Pfizer, sustained another blow yesterday when the company acknowledged that a 1999 clinical trial found that elderly patients taking the drug were far more likely to suffer heart problems than patients taking a placebo. - from "The New York Times - free registration required.
"Celebrex, the popular arthritis and pain medicine from Pfizer, sustained another blow yesterday when the company acknowledged that a 1999 clinical trial found that elderly patients taking the drug were far more likely to suffer heart problems than patients taking a placebo. - from "The New York Times - free registration required.
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