The following stories appear in full on today's Vidyya Medical News Service Web site.

The Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC) to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) voted on Friday, 14-to-1 to recommend accelerated approval of Campath®. Campath® (Alemtuzumab) is an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have been treated with alkylating agents and have failed fludarabine therapy.

For more information: FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Accelerated Approval Of Campath® For Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

A recent peer review of a landmark clinical study published earlier this year in the longest running medical journal, "The Lancet", strengthens the case for hyperthermia as a powerful therapy for rectal cancer. In the United States alone there are over 130 thousand new cases of colorectal cancer each year, and 43% of colorectal patients will die from the disease.

For more information: Hyperthermia Viable Treatment For Victims Of Rectal Cancer

Hoffmann-La Roche announced on 14 December 2000, that the US Food and Drug Administration granted marketing approval for a pediatric treatment indication for its influenza antiviral Tamiflu(TM) (oseltamivir phosphate).

For more information: Tamiflu Granted FDA Approval For Pediatric Indications

The largest, most comprehensive study of its kind to date has found that women who have undergone tubal sterilization are at no greater risk for menstrual abnormalities than are women who have not had the procedure, settling a debate within the medical community.

For more information: Tubal Sterilization Poses No Greater Risk Of Menstrual Abnormalities, Study Finds

There are a handful of published articles and books that list side effects from tubal ligation procedures. There is also a growing body of women who feel that symptoms they are experiencing are real and due to their ligation surgeries. While the medical profession may believe the recent study results from the CDC and other large organizations have put the debate to rest, the patients appear to have another opinion. Read a short bibliography of quotes from texts that mention complications and side effects of tubal ligation surgery.

For more information: The Other Side Of The Debate: Side Effects of Tubal Ligation Sterilizations

Today's Vidyya articles are:

• FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Accelerated Approval Of Campath® For Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

• Hyperthermia Viable Treatment For Victims Of Rectal Cancer

• Tamiflu Granted FDA Approval For Pediatric Indications

• Tubal Sterilization Poses No Greater Risk Of Menstrual Abnormalities, Study Finds

• The Other Side Of The Debate: Side Effects of Tubal Ligation Sterilizations