Research Front

By Anonymous

Experimental Rx for RLS People with irritable bowel syndrome who lose sleep at night due to restless leg syndrome (RLS) may be interested in preliminary results from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. In a recent study, 10 of 13 Irritable bowel patients who had abnormal lactulose breath tests reported that RLS symptoms improved at least 80 percent from baseline after being treated for small Intestinal bacterial overgrowth. GI symptom improvement was “great” In six patients, “moderate” In five, and “mild” in two cases. The experimental antibiotic treatment regimen included: rifaximin 1,200 mg day for ten days followed by tegaserod 3 mg, longterm; one month of zinc 220 mg per day; and once-daily problotic or rifaximin monotherapy.

Melanoma Research

Caught early, melanoma skin cancer Is one of the easiest cancers to treat-caught late, it is one of the most difficult. At the Society for Melanoma Research Congress In November, researchers presented promising data from Phase II trials using imatinib (Gleevec) for melanoma patients with a genetic mutation called c- Klt. Other novel approaches being tested include drug therapies to target a protein that shields melanoma cancer cells from the body’s immune system. A new diagnostic tool to better detect melanoma is expected to be on the market by mld-2008.

Climbing Every Mountain

In 2007, 56-year-old Veronika Meyer became the first person with a replacement heart valve to reach the top of Mount Everest, achieving her goal of scaling the highest peak on each of the world’s seven continents.

“I am very happy and proud to tell you that we reached the summit of Everest (29,035 feet) at 4:00 a.m.,” wrote Meyer in her journal. “We were the first to reach the summit on this day. I think this success can give hope to many heart patients. My best regards to all staff of St. Jude Medical.”

Meyer was diagnosed at age 23 with aortic valve diseasefailure of a major valve that controls the flow of blood out of the heart. Her condition slowly worsened, and In 1997 she underwent surgery to implant a mechanical heart valve developed by the St. Jude Medical team. Since the surgery, she has climbed five of the seven summits.

Research to further improve the detection and treatment of heart valve problems is ongoing.

Gotta Go?

Millions of women worry about getting to a bathroom on time. Stress incontinence (the most common reason) happens with coughing, exercising, or other movements that put pressure on the bladder. In other women-and men, too-the bladder cannot empty completely or the urinary passage is blocked. Damage to the nerves that control the bladder may also be to blame.

Although helpful therapies exist for many with the distressing problem, new options may be on the horizon. At press time, researchers are recruiting volunteers for more than 90 clinical trials that are targeting better ways to treat and even cure urinary Incontinence.

Choosing to enroll in a study is an Important decision.

As a first step, interested readers may log on to www.clinicaltrials.gov for information about study locations, eligibility, and contact numbers. Then call the study coordinator. Key topics to discuss include:

* Why do researchers believe the treatment may be effective? Has it been tested before?

* How do the possible risks and benefits of participation compare with my current treatment?

* How long will the study last, and in what way will it affect my daily life?

Copyright Benjamin Franklin Literary & Medical Society Jan/Feb 2008

(c) 2008 Saturday Evening Post, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.