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Food Additive May One Day Help Control Blood Lipids And Reduce Disease Risk
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a substance in the liver that helps process fat and glucose. That substance is a component of the common food additive lecithin, and researchers speculate it may one day be possible to use lecithin products to control blood lipids and reduce risk for diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular disease using treatments delivered in food rather than medication.
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AARP Presses Lawmakers To Support Long Term Care
AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond released
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Teens Need To Hear About 'More Than Abstinence,' Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Says
Although it is "important for other young people to hear" Bristol Palin"s message "about how hard it is to be a teenage mother," her "lesson falls short by suggesting that any teen can successfully avoid premarital sex," a Philadelphia Inquirer editorial says. Palin, who gave birth in December 2008 after an unintended pregnancy and is the daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), has "changed her tune" since she said in a February interview that teen abstinence is ""not realistic at all,"" the editorial states. It adds that Bristol Palin -- now an "abstinence ambassador" for the Candie"s Foundation -- recently said that abstinence is "realistic" and that it is the "harder choice, but it"s the safer choice."The editorial continues that Palin is correct that "[a]bstinence is the only foolproof way to avoid pregnancy" and sexually transmitted infections. However, "any viable lesson about avoiding teen pregnancy should include methods besides avoiding sex, including the use of condoms," the editorial says. Recent studies have shown that abstinence-only sex education programs have had "no measurable impact on delaying teens from having sex for the first time," according to the editorial, which adds that teen pregnancy rates rose 5% between 2005 and 2007 after years of declines. Additionally, three out of 10 U.S. girls will get pregnant by age 20, a figure that increases to more than 50% for Hispanics and blacks. The editorial concludes that teens "need frank talk about premarital sex that includes all of the viable options to avoid pregnancy" (Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/15).
Medical Devices

European Scientific Committee Positive Recommendation From For A New Once Daily Mirapexin(R) Formulation For The Treatment Of Parkinson's Disease

Boehringer Ingelheim announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has issued a positive opinion recommending the approval of a once daily formulation for Mirapexin®/ Sifrol® (pramipexole), in all countries of the European Union, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The CHMP recommendation states that the new prolonged-release formulation is indicated for treatment of the signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson"s disease, alone (without levodopa) or in combination with levodopa, i.e. over the course of the disease, through to late stages when the effect of levodopa wears off or becomes inconsistent and fluctuations of the therapeutic effect occur (end of dose or "on off" fluctuations). The CHMP recommendation follows clinical trial results confirming the high therapeutic benefits of Mirapexin® / Sifrol® also when administered in a convenient once-a-day formulation.1-4 "We are very pleased about the positive recommendation. This effective new treatment option combines the trusted clinical benefits of Mirapexin® with the convenience of a single daily dose. The once daily administration of the new Mirapexin® prolonged-release formulation has been shown to cause less frequent fluctuations in the pramipexole plasma concentration over 24 hours compared to the three times daily administration of pramipexole immediate release tablets. Once approved, PD patients already taking Mirapexin® may be switched overnight from the immediate release tablets to the Mirapexin® prolonged-release tablets, at the same daily dose.5 In addition to benefiting from the high therapeutic value of Mirapexin®, the reduced pill burden will mean added convenience for patients and their carers. It is important for physicians to have effective and flexible treatment regimens to choose from so that they can offer individualised treatments in line with the patient"s needs," commented Dr. Manfred Haehl, MD, Senior Vice-President Medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Headquarters. (Note: Mirapexin® / Sifrol® is currently registered as immediate release formulation only.) A new drug application (NDA) for a once daily, extended release formulation of Mirapex® is in review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Parkinson"s disease (currently available in the U.S.A. as immediate release formulation). Boehringer Ingelheim is looking forward to making the new formulation available to patients with PD in the U.S.A. should the FDA approve the filed submission. About Parkinson"s disease (PD) Parkinson"s disease is the second most common chronic neurological disorder in older adults after Alzheimer"s. Its worldwide prevalence is estimated to be approximately one to two percent of those over 65 years.6-8 Although traditionally PD is associated with motor symptoms (such as tremor, rigidity, slowed motion, imbalance, shuffling gait, loss of facial expression), the non-motor symptoms, including depressive symptoms, pain, cognitive impairment and sleep disorders can be significant. Symptoms can vary from patient to patient, but worsen over time. About Mirapexin®/Sifrol® (pramipexole) Pramipexole (known under the trade names Mirapexin®, Sifrol®, Mirapex® and Pexola®) is a compound from Boehringer Ingelheim research first approved in 1997 for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson`s disease, as monotherapy or in combination with levodopa. Pramipexole was approved in 2006 for the symptomatic treatment of moderate to severe idiopathic Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). Pramipexole is available in over 70 countries across the globe. The most commonly (ò‰¥ 5%) reported adverse drug reactions in patients with Parkinson"s disease treated with pramipexole were nausea, dyskinesia, hypotension, dizziness, somnolence, insomnia, constipation, hallucination, headache and fatigue. Pramipexole may cause patients, particularly with Parkinson"s disease, to fall asleep without any warning even while doing normal daily activities such as driving. When taking pramipexole hallucinations can occur and sometimes patients may feel dizzy, sweaty or nauseated upon standing up. Patients and caregivers should be aware of the fact that abnormal behaviour (reflecting symptoms of impulse control disorders and compulsive behaviours) such as binge eating, compulsive shopping, hypersexuality and pathological gambling have been reported in patients treated with dopaminergic drugs, including pramipexole. Dose reduction/tapered discontinuation should be considered. References 1. Hauser R et al. Double-blind evaluation of pramipexole extended-release (ER) in early Parkinson"s disease. Abstract S43.003 presented on 30 April 2009 at 61st Annual Meeting, Seattle, USA. 2. Salin L et al. Double-blind evaluation of maintenance of efficacy of pramipexole extended-release in early Parkinson"s disease. Abstract P06.150 presented on 29 April 2009 at AAN 61st Annual Meeting, Seattle, USA. 3. Poewe, W et al. Pramipexole Extended-Release is Effective in Early Parkinson"s Disease. Poster We-185. (presented at MDS International Congress, Paris, France, 10 June 2009). 4. Schapira, A et al. Efficacy and safety of pramipexole extended-release for advanced Parkinson"s disease. Poster We-199 (presented at MDS International Congress, Paris, France, 09 June 2009). 5. Rascol O et al. Overnight switching from immediate- to extended-release pramipexole in early Parkinson"s disease. Abstract P06.152 presented on 29 April 2009 at AAN 61st Annual Meeting, Seattle, USA, 30 April - 02 May 2009. 6. Nussbaum R et al. Alzheimer"s disease and Parkinson"s disease. N Engl J Med 2003;348:1356-64. 7. de Rijk MC et al. Prevalence of Parkinsonism and Parkinson"s disease in Europe: the EUROPARKINSON Collaborative Study. European Community Concerted Action on the Epidemiology of Parkinson"s disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1997;62:10-5. 8. Parkinson Study Group, Holloway RG et al. Pramipexole vs levodopa as initial treatment for Parkinson disease. Arch Neurol 2004; 61(7): 1044-1053. Boehringer Ingelheim


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