Saliva test for identifying, tracking cancer steps closer

Rapid, accurate test that can detect biomarkers of lung cancer in saliva is soon to be trialed in patients.

The researchers say the saliva test, which is being trialed in cancer patients this year, takes only 10 minutes to give a result and could be done in the doctor's office.

The news marks a milestone in over 10 years of research led by oral cancer and saliva diagnostics researcher Prof. David Wong, of the School of Dentistry at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA).

Prof. Wong and colleagues have been working on a method called "liquid biopsy" that detects circulating tumor DNA in bodily fluids such as saliva and blood.

Liquid biopsy holds the promise of rapid, less invasive identification ofcancers and easier tracking of disease progress during treatment.

Prof. Wong described the prototype in a news briefing at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which is taking place in Washington, DC.

The device uses electric field-induced release and measurement (EFIRM) to detect non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) biomarkers in saliva.

The EFIRM device analyzes the contents of exosomes - tiny bags of molecules that cells release now and again. The device forces the exosomes to release their contents and carries out bio-recognition of the released biomolecules at the same time.

High accuracy compared with current sequencing technology

In a study published in 2013, Prof. Wong and colleagues described using EFIRM to show that saliva contains tumor-shed exosomes, which have previously been found in blood.

The approach has a high accuracy compared with current sequencing technology, says Prof. Wong, explaining that the trial in lung cancer patients is taking place in China this year. The study is a collaboration between UCLA and West China Hospital of Sichuan University.

Prof. Wong says the test takes only 10 minutes to give a result and could be done in the doctor's office.

He sees it forming part of a set of diagnostic tools. For example, should a lung X-ray show a suspicious nodule, then the doctor could use the saliva test to rapidly find out if cancer is likely.

The test works by detecting genetic mutations in a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The protein normally helps cells grow and divide, but some NSCLC cells have too much EGFR, which makes them grow faster. Drugs called EGFR inhibitors that block the protein could be ordered promptly by a clinician.

Prof. Wong and colleagues have also been looking at the possibility of a saliva test for detecting mutations linked to oropharyngeal cancers - cancers of the mouth and the back of the throat.

In the following video, published in March 2015, Prof. Wong talks about the emergence of saliva as the basis for a non-invasive test that could significantly speed up and ease the diagnosis of cancer:

Gypsyamber D'Souza, associate professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, was also at the news briefing with Prof. Wong. She says enthusiasm for the liquid biopsy must be tempered by the complexity of the cancer process and the potential usefulness of the technique for specific cancers.

Prof. Wong's announcement follows a recent Medical News Today report about the development of a salivary gland test for early Parkinson's disease. The test, which uses a biopsy of gland tissue, could provide an accurate and timely diagnosis of a disease for which there is currently no way to detect in its early stages.

Sebivo 600mg- Hepatitis B Treatment Prevents Virus Transmission During Pregnancy

In addition to treating hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, Novartis’s antiviral drug telbivudine, effectively protects against mother-to-infant transmission.

To evaluate the drug’s potential in preventing perinatal HBV transmission, researchers prospectively studied 450 HBV-positive pregnant women with high viral loads during their second or third trimester. Of this group, 279 women received telbivudine 600 mg daily for weeks 24 through 32 of gestation, while the remaining 171 women were unwilling to take antiviral drugs, and thus served as control subjects.



After birth, all newborns were treated according to standard immunoprophylaxis procedure, meaning they received a recombinant HBV vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin. When the infants were 6 months old, the researchers determined potential mother-to-child HPV transmission through detection of hepatitis B surface antigen and HBV DNA levels.

None of the infants whose mothers were treated with telbivudine while pregnant were HBV-positive at 6 months after birth, compared with 14.7% of infants in the control group. Furthermore, nearly all of the telbivudine-treated new mothers (99.1%) had undetectable levels of HBV DNA in cord blood, compared with only 61.5% of control subjects.

No severe adverse events or complications related to telbivudine treatment were observed in women or infants, which led the researchers to conclude that the drug is safe and well tolerated in both populations.

“Telbivudine has demonstrated a wonderful long-term safety profile in both mothers and their infants. It has also demonstrated an excellent efficacy—as high as 100%—in the protection rate of mother-to-infant transmission,” study author Yuming Wang, MD, told Pharmacy Times in an e-mail. “These 2 pros are very important because pregnant HBV patients are a very special population, including both mothers and babies.”

Dr. Wang noted some health care professionals worry about telbivudine’s potential side effects, which includecreatine kinase elevation or hepatitis flares after drug withdrawal. However, the study results, which were published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “showed that both of them are rarely seen and easy to treat,” he said.

"If we are to decrease the global burden of hepatitis B, we need to start by addressing mother-to-infant transmission, which is the primary pathway of HBV infection," Dr. Wang noted.

The researchers said the long-term effects of telbivudine use, especially when compared to tenofovir, remain to be explored.

Price:
Sebivo 600mg 28s (Novartis)= RM480

Crystal Tomato Plus 30s in Johor Bahru

Taking skin whitening to the next level! now just applying skincare might not be enough, therefore more and more people are consuming oral skincare supplements. The newCrystal Tomato® Plus was launched this week at the Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur. Well, this is a daily oral dietary supplement for skin whitening.

Crystal Tomato® Plus & Crystal Clear Skin Clarity Cream Launch @ Le Meridien KL

The supplement is made from Natural and Pure freeze-dried Crystal Tomato® Powder, free of preservatives. Crystal Tomato® Carotenoids are the first molecules produced in the sequence process in the tomato plant to create carotenoids, which primarily function as anti-oxidants.

Cathryn Lee, the spokesperson of  Crystal Tomato®

When consumed, Crystal Tomato® Carotenoids preferentially attach to the skin where they are the only carotenoids to protect the skin in the following ways:

• Serve as natural sunscreen against UVA/B to protect against UV damage, photo-oxidation and sunburn

• Act as anti-oxidants to protect against free radical damage caused by environmental aggressors

• Have anti-inflammatory properties against wounds and UV damage

• Inhibit melanin synthesis to prevent pigmentation spots from forming

• Reduce the melanin present in the cells including dark acne scars, freckles, dark underarms and age spots

Crystal Tomato® Plus

Each Crystal Tomato® Plus caplet contains 800mg Crystal Tomato® Carotenoids, the equivalent to eating 3 fresh Crystal Tomatoes a day. It is certified HALAL by IFANCA (Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America).

Dosage: Take 1 tablet a day and it can be taken anytime, day or night. If pill is taken in the morning in the 1^st day, please try to follow the same sequence the following days.

Packaging: 10 caplets per blister, 3 blisters per box (30 caplets for 1 month supply).

Price & Availability: 

Oh yes! to achieve a more desirable result it is best to consume Crystal Tomato® Plus oral skin whitening and apply Crystal Tomato® Crystal Clear Skin Clarity Cream. The Crystal Clear Skin Clarity Cream is the new skincare that was introduced to the market this month.

For more information about Crystal Tomato® Plus Oral Skin Whitening Supplement, please visit www.crystaltomato.com.my

Price: Crystal Tomato Plus 30s = RM450

Whatsapp: 012-7334511 /0162751412

Do ear infections always need to be treated with antibiotics?

Many parents bring their children with ear infections to express care, urgent care, and even, the emergency department to request antibiotics. But, sometimes, antibiotics aren’t the right choice. Most ear infections cure themselves without the help of antibiotics.

“An ear infection is a bacterial or viral infection that affects the ear. It becomes painful when buildups of fluid and inflammation occur in the air-filled space behind the eardrum,” says Mayo Clinic Health System nurse practitioner Leanna Munoz. “Signs and symptoms of infection often quickly show.”

Munoz says a great way to tell if your child has an ear infection is if he or she starts showing the following symptoms: pain in the ear, especially while lying down; pulling or tugging the ear; difficulty sleeping; difficulty hearing or responding to sounds; and fever or headache.

Generally, an ear infection will improve within the first couple of days and clear up within one to two weeks without any treatment. It is recommended to use the wait-and-see approach for:

• Children ages six to 23 months with mild inner-ear pain in one ear for less than 48 hours and a temperature less than 102.2°F (39°C).

• Children ages two and older with mild inner-ear pain in one or both ears for less than 48 hours and a temperature less than 102.2°F (39°C).

“Home remedies can help manage your child’s pain,” adds Munoz. “Try placing a warm, damp washcloth over the affected ear. Most providers recommend over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to relieve pain. Use these medications as directed on the label.”

Your medical provider can suggest the best treatment for your child. Antibiotics may be beneficial for certain children with ear infections. Your provider can explain the potential side effects and concerns about antibiotics creating strains of resistant disease.

If antibiotics are prescribed, be sure to use the entire antibiotic as directed. Failing to do so can result in recurring infection and resistance of bacteria to antibiotic medication. – Mayo Clinic News Network/Tribune News Service

Tell your boss you need more breaks to be super-efficient

People are working harder than ever. Some workers toil nine to 10 hours each day, sometimes without any breaks.

Does this sound like you? Breaks, especially lunch breaks, are vital to being successful on the job. You may be thinking you don’t have time for a lunch break in your busy day. In actuality, breaks help workers forge ahead with a higher rate of productivity.

Dr John Murphy, family physician at Mayo Clinic Health System in the US, says, “Taking a lunch break ensures that you will be able to face an afternoon full of work with renewed energy and confidence.”

Throughout a morning of hard work, your body accumulates many needs and hungers that must be addressed by lunchtime in order to continue work in the afternoon.

The obvious need is a physical one that can only be fulfilled by food. Light and low-fat meals that include wholegrains, fruits and vegetables are recommended to fuel your body and keep you from craving an afternoon nap.

Drinking water also leaves you refreshed and helps fight drowsiness.

In addition to meeting physical needs, your lunch break is the time to rejuvenate your mind and spirit. It’s important to take time away from your blurred computer screen and stiff desk chair in order to concentrate on and complete your afternoon tasks.

Here are a few examples of how to get the most out of your next lunch break:

• Take a brisk walk.

• Read an entertaining book or magazine.

• Go shopping.

• Call a friend.

• Meditate.

• Listen to your favourite music.

Your body is working hard on the job, so take care of it. Give it the breaks it deserves.

Even if you can only spare 20 or 30 minutes, use your lunch break as a time to re-energise. It will help you avoid the dreaded afternoon slump and forge ahead for a long afternoon of work.

If you do find yourself in an afternoon slump, Dr Murphy has the following suggestions to get you back on track. Keep them posted at your desk for quick reference when you feel yourself dragging.

• Take five energising deep breaths.

• Drink a glass of cold water or soothing herbal tea.

• Get up and take a walk around the office to get the blood flowing.

• If you’ve been staring at your computer for an extended period of time, look out the window or at another object for a few seconds.

• Eat a piece of fruit or some crunchy vegetables – nutritious snacks are part of a healthy diet.

• Laugh.

• Do some basic stretching in your workspace.

• Close your eyes for a few minutes and imagine your ideal vacation.

• Change up your afternoon routine – make sure you have a mixture of active and inactive tasks to keep your brain and body working.

• Take time to do work tasks away from your desk, in a new setting. – Mayo Clinic News Network/Tribune News Service

Scientists believe they’re close to a cure for Type 1 diabetes

Scientists believe they’re closing in on a cure for Type 1 diabetes, and perhaps making daily insulin shots a thing of the past for patients, according to studies published Monday.

Researchers from MIT, Harvard and Boston Children’s Hospital said they’re on the verge of developing replacements for pancreatic cells that are mysteriously destroyed by a patient’s own body — thus making it impossible to make insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels.

Scientists, writing in the journals Nature Medicine and Nature Biotechnology, said they’ve engineered material from brown algae that could work for up to six months at a time — in a huge relief from daily doses of insulin, whether by injection or insulin pump.

“We are excited by these results, and are working hard to advance this technology to the clinic,” said Daniel Anderson, an MIT chemical engineering professor.

Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, afflicts about 1.25 million Americans, and about 200,000 of them are under 20, according to a CDC report in 2014.

Type 1 diabetes is believed to have a genetic connection and is not related to weight or lifestyle, as is Type 2 diabetes.

“Encapsulation therapies have the potential to be groundbreaking for people with (Type 1 diabetes),” said Julia Greenstein, vice president of discovery research of the JDRF, formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. “These treatments aim to effectively establish long-term insulin independence and eliminate the daily burden of managing the disease for months, possibly years, at a time without the need for immune suppression.”

Source: http://nypost.com/

Relvar Ellipta

What is inside Relvar Ellipta?

Relvar Ellipta contains two active ingredients:

1. Fluticasone furoate, which is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)

2. Vilanterol, which is long-acting bronchodilator (LABA).

The combination of the two is known as an ICS/LABA.

How Relvar Ellipta works

The ICS in Relvar Ellipta helps to reduce the inflammation (irritation and swelling) in your lungs, so gradually ease breathing problems and also prevent attacks of asthma.

The LABA relaxes the muscles of small air passages in the lungs, helping to keep your airways open so that air can move in and out more freely. When taken regularly, it helps the small air passages remain open.

When you take these two active substances together regularly, they will help to control your breathing difficulties more than either medicine alone. Relvar Ellipta is what we call a preventative treatment for asthma and COPD, so it is used to help prevent breathlessness and wheeziness coming on.

How do I take Relvar Ellipta?

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you to. Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Relvar Ellipta’s active ingredients have an effect for 24 hours, so for Relvar Ellipta to work properly, you need to take it once a day, at the same time everyday.

Find out how to use your Ellipta inhaler.

Do I still need to use my reliever inhaler?

Yes. Relvar Ellipta should not be used to relieve a sudden attack of breathlessness or wheezing. If you get this sort of attack you must use a quick-acting reliever inhaler.

Relvar Ellipta does not work immediately – it takes about 15 minutes so you will not feel an instant effect. Your quick-acting reliever inhaler is different to Relvar Ellipta because it is a short-acting bronchodilator, intended to work rapidly to open the airways during an attack or worsening of symptoms. Relvar Ellipta helps prevent you from becoming breathless or wheezy.

If your symptoms (breathlessness, wheezing, cough) do not improve or get worse, or if you are using your quick-acting reliever inhaler more often than usual contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Price: 

Relvar Ellipta 100/25 (30D) - RM120

Relvar Ellipta 200/25 (30D) - RM170

NeuroAid 36s at RM185

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• Major Clinical Trial

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Chinese Medicine Neuroaid Efficacy on Stroke Recovery

A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Study

1. Christopher L.H. Chen, FRCP; 
2. Sherry H.Y. Young, MD;
3. Herminigildo H. Gan, MD; 
4. Rajinder Singh, FRCP; 
5. Annabelle Y. Lao, MD;
6. Alejandro C. Baroque II, MD; 
7. Hui Meng Chang, MD;
8. John Harold B. Hiyadan, MD; 
9. Carlos L. Chua, MD; 
10. Joel M. Advincula, MD;
11. Sombat Muengtaweepongsa, MD; 
12. Bernard P.L. Chan, MRCP;
13. H. Asita de Silva, DPhil; 
14. Somchai Towanabut, MD; 
15. Nijasri C. Suwanwela, MD; 
16. Niphon Poungvarin, FRCP; 
17. Siwaporn Chankrachang, MD;
18. K.S. Lawrence Wong, MD; 
19. Gaik Bee Eow, FRCP; 
20. Jose C. Navarro, MD;
21. Narayanaswamy Venketasubramanian, FRCP; 
22. Chun Fan Lee, PhD;
23. Marie-Germaine Bousser, MD 
24. for the CHIMES Study Investigators

+Author Affiliations

1. From the Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Clinical Research Centre, Singapore, Singapore (C.L.H.C.); Changi General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore (S.H.Y.Y); Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines (H.H.G.); National Neuroscience Institute, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore (R.S.); Davao Medical School Foundation Hospital, San Pedro Hospital, Davao City, Philippines (A.Y.L.); University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines (A.C.B.); National Neuroscience Institute-Singapore General Hospital Campus, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore (H.M.C.); Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Baguio City, Philippines (J.H.B.H.); Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines (C.L.C.); West Visayas State University Medical Center, Lapaz, Philippines (J.M.A.); Thammasat University, Prathumthani, Thailand (S.M.); Division of Neurology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore (B.P.L.C.); Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka (H.A.d.S.); Prasat Neurological Institute, Rajthevi Bangkok, Thailand (S.T.); Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Pathunwan, Bangkok, Thailand (N.C.S.); Siriraj Hospital, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok, Thailand (N.P.); Chiang Mai University, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand (S.C.); Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories of Hong Kong (K.S.L.W.); Penang Hospital, Jalan Residensi, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia (G.B.E.); University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines (J.C.N.); Raffles Neuroscience Centre, Raffles Hospital, Singapore, Singapore (N.V.); Singapore Clinical Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore (C.F.L.); and Lariboisière University Hospital, Paris, France (M.G.B.).

1. Correspondence to Christopher L.H. Chen, FRCP, Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Clinical Research Centre, Bldg MD11, Level 5, 05-09, 10 Medical Dr, Singapore 117597. E-mail phccclh@nus.edu.sg

Next Section

Abstract

Background and Purpose—Previous clinical studies suggested benefit for poststroke recovery when MLC601 was administered between 2 weeks and 6 months of stroke onset. The Chinese Medicine Neuroaid Efficacy on Stroke recovery (CHIMES) study tested the hypothesis that MLC601 is superior to placebo in acute, moderately severe ischemic stroke within a 72-hour time window.

Methods—This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial randomized 1100 patients with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 6 to 14, within 72 hours of onset, to trial medications for 3 months. The primary outcome was a shift in the modified Rankin Scale. Secondary outcomes were modified Rankin Scale dichotomy, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale improvement, difference in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale total and motor scores, Barthel index, and mini-mental state examination. Planned subgroup analyses were performed according to age, sex, time to first dose, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, presence of cortical signs, and antiplatelet use.

Results—The modified Rankin Scale shift analysis–adjusted odds ratio was 1.09 (95% confidence interval, 0.86–1.32). Statistical difference was not detected between the treatment groups for any of the secondary outcomes. Subgroup analyses showed no statistical heterogeneity for the primary outcome; however, a trend toward benefit in the subgroup receiving treatment beyond 48 hours from stroke onset was noted. Serious and nonserious adverse events rates were similar between the 2 groups.

Conclusions—MLC601 is statistically no better than placebo in improving outcomes at 3 months when used among patients with acute ischemic stroke of intermediate severity. Longer treatment duration and follow-up of participants with treatment initiated after 48 hours may be considered in future studies.

Clinical Trial Registration—URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00554723.