Data show significant asthma control and improved lung function with Symbicort

New data demonstrated the maintenance combination asthma therapy, SYMBICORT® (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dehydrate), provides a rapid, clinically significant bronchodilatory response, or opening of the airways, defined as the median time to achieve =15% improvement in lung function within 15 minutes after administration. In addition, these data demonstrated that in comparison to its monocomponents (budesonide and formoterol) and placebo, SYMBICORT and the other treatment groups containing formoterol had a faster bronchodilatory response than budesonide or placebo. more  

Prescribing Information - Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dehydrate)

Long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists may increase the risk of asthma-related death. Therefore, when treating patients with asthma, SYMBICORT should only be used for patients not adequately controlled on other asthma-controller medications (e.g., low-to-medium dose inhaled corticosteroids) or whose disease severity clearly warrants initiation of treatment with two maintenance therapies. more

Epigenetics could lead to better cancer diagnosis

DNA methylation is an epigenetic process that occurs when a methyl group binds to one of DNA’s four bases, cytosine. These changes are responsible for controlling the activity of genes by turning them off. DNA methylation patterns differ dramatically between healthy and diseased tissue and thereby can serve as biomarkers, opening a window into earlier detection of disease. In a special issue of the journal Disease Markers published in February 2007, ten articles explore the details and challenges of cancer epigenetics. more  

12 myths about colon cancer

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and the No. 1 cause of cancer death among non-smokers. More than 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer this year, and 52,000 will die from the disease. more

Role of cholesterol in Alzheimer’s disease unclear  

It sounds simple: The lower your cholesterol, the better your heart health. But a man’s heart and his head don’t always agree. In fact, the relationships among cholesterol levels, psychological function, and neurologic disorders are complex and sometimes controversial, reports the March 2007 issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. more

Recognizing gender differences in heart attack symptoms can save a life  

Knowing that women often experience different heart attack symptoms than men is important information for women and for those who love them, not only during National Heart month but year-around. more

Beta-blockers should not be first choice for high blood pressure

Beta-blocker drugs such as Tenormin, Inderal and Lopressor should not be a doctor’s first choice for treating high blood pressure, according to a large new review of studies. more

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