In the News

XYMOGEN Launches Adrenal Manager Supplement To Help Control Bodily Response To Stress

Study Shows Value of Calcium Scan in Predicting Heart Attack and Stroke among Those Considered at Either Low or High Risk

Cardia 7’s Purified Omega 7, a new Fatty Acid, has the Potential to Lower Triglycerides and C-Reactive Protein

Published Study Demonstrates Linnea’s HMRlignan Decreases Severe Hot Flashes in Postmenopausal Women ages 50-75

Thorne Research to Partner in Creating Comprehensive Platform for Personalized Health Products, Services, and Information

Thorne Research, Dr. Mark Houston, and the Hypertension Institute Launch TruCardia, a New Venture Targeting Cardiovascular Health

XYMOGEN Launches i5 Energize To Support Gastrointestinal Health And Energy

New Approach to Assessing the Value of Treatments for Rare Diseases

Tracking Exercise as a Vital Sign Associated with Weight Loss and Better Glucose Control for Patients

International Study Finds Heart Disease Similar in Men and Women

Periodontal Health An Important Factor To Better Diabetes Control

Study Suggests Noninvasive Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy May Be Suitable Alternative to Surgery for Early-Stage Lung Cancer Patients

XYMOGEN Launches Adrenal Manager Supplement To Help Control Bodily Response To Stress

Orlando-based health sciences company XYMOGEN recently announced the launch of the Adrenal Manager, the newest formula in their long line of exclusive professional dietary supplements.

Stress is not something that can easily be avoided, and its impact can have damaging effects on our health. Recent studies have linked stress with an increased risk of heart problems, arthritis, diabetes, accelerated aging, and a variety of other chronic conditions. While nothing can completely eliminate potential stressors, Adrenal Manager can support the body’s response when stress occurs.

Adrenal Manager pairs glandulars with targeted nutrients to support the body’s response to everyday stressors, and can help influence how well we cope with change and with ongoing stress. Among the comprehensive blend of nutrients are high-potency pantothenic acid, vitamin C, activated B vitamins, and mineral amino acid chelates.

“Stress has a large number of causes: trauma, distress, poor diet, lack of sleep, allergies, and more,” said XYMOGEN CEO, Brian Blackburn. “Because stress affects so many people—and can influence such a variety of health factors—it was important for us to develop a way to help people respond to it so they can live happier, healthier lives.”

Stressors can also increase metabolic demand, energy expenditure, and micronutrient needs. To address these issues, Adrenal Manager supports energy production and metabolic function.

Study Shows Value of Calcium Scan in Predicting Heart Attack and Stroke among Those Considered at Either Low or High Risk

Coronary artery calcium testing trumps cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and other risk factors in predicting heart attacks and deaths

A new study shows that coronary artery calcium (CAC) screening, an assessment tool that is not currently recommended for people considered at low risk, should play a more prominent role in helping determine a person’s risk for heart attack and heart disease-related death, as well as the need for angioplasty or bypass surgery. CAC screening provides a direct measure of calcium deposits in heart arteries and is easily obtained on a computed tomography (CT) scan.

“We showed that by using only the traditional risk factors, we miss a significant percentage of individuals at high risk. We may also be overtreating a large number of people who can safely avoid lifelong treatment,” says lead author Michael G. Silverman, MD, who formerly worked at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease and is now a cardiology fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

In the study, published online on Dec. 23 in the European Heart Journal, the researchers compared two approaches to risk assessment. One approach looked only at risk factors including cholesterol, blood pressure, current smoking, and diabetes. The other used the direct measurement of atherosclerosis as seen on the coronary artery calcium score.

“Our study, using data from almost 7,000 adult participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), shows that coronary artery calcium screening provides an accurate, personalized assessment for those who, by traditional risk factors, are at either high or low risk of a heart attack or death from coronary artery disease,” says Khurram Nasir, MD, MPH, the study’s senior author and director of wellness and prevention research at Baptist Health Medical Group in Miami.

The MESA participants did not have evidence of heart disease when they joined the study between 2000 and 2002. They were assessed for risk factors and had a coronary calcium scan and were followed for a mean of 7.1 years for coronary heart disease events, such as heart attacks.

“We found that 15 percent of people believed to be at very low risk actually had high coronary artery calcium scores above 100 and were at relatively high risk of a cardiac event over the next seven years,” says study coauthor Roger Blumenthal, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center.

“On the other hand, 35 percent of study participants thought to be at very high risk and needing aggressive therapy with aspirin and statin medication actually had no coronary artery calcium and an extremely low event rate of the next seven years. For them, we can emphasize lifestyle modifications,” says Blumenthal.

Nasir says the results may encourage a major paradigm shift in how physicians estimate heart disease risk for their patients. “Our study shows that coronary artery calcium testing holds promise as a frontline assessment for people before they develop heart disease symptoms. In the meantime, we believe that doctors should consider offering a coronary artery calcium scan to their patients to markedly improve risk prediction if they are unsure whether they should be on lifelong statin and aspirin therapy.”

The study, “Impact of Coronary Artery Calcium on Coronary Heart Disease Events in Individuals at the Extremes of Traditional Risk Factor Burden: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis,” was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant numbers N01-HC-95159 to N01-HC-95166, N01 HC 95169, U01HL105270-03 to HMK and T32-HL-7227-36 to MGS.

For more information on the Baptist Health Medical Group:

baptisthealth.net/en/baptist-health-medical-group/pages/default.aspx

For more information on the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease:

hopkinsmedicine.org/heart_vascular_institute/clinical_services/centers_excellence/ciccarone/

Cardia 7’s Purified Omega 7, a new Fatty Acid, has the Potential to Lower Triglycerides and C-Reactive Protein

The health benefits of fatty acids like omega-3s have been known for some time and many health-minded people are taking advantage of their presence in health food stores.

Recently the benefits of another unsaturated fat, Purified Omega 7, have been discovered. Omega 7, also known as palmitoleic acid, is derived from purified fish oils. Cardia 7 now offers purified omega-7, which has the potential to lessen triglycerides and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol. Supplementing with Purified Omega 7 may also decrease fatty liver and improve the cell’s ability to take in blood sugar.

In order to benefit from the fatty acid it must be purified, cleansing the fat of palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid that is capable of causing negative health consequences. Cardia7 presents the new supplement, Purified Omega 7, which has undergone a unique purification process to deliver high levels of palmitoleic acid. Many will find the supplement Omega 7 on the shelves at stores. Unfortunately, many of the supplements sold in the stores are not purified, and therefore can contain as much as 30% saturated fats.

“Consumers take supplements because they believe they will be beneficial to their health,” said Les Proctor, managing director of Omega Wonders, the distributor of Cardia 7, “but omega 7 is only beneficial if palmitic acid has been eliminated from it. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), palmitic acid can cause cardiovascular risk just as much as trans-fatty acids.”

Proctor also explained, “Consumers feel safe taking supplements and they trust that they will provide health benefits and not health problems. Cardia 7 offers the health benefits consumers are seeking by providing more palmitoleic acid, the heart-healthy omega-7, without the antagonistic palmitic acids, which can cause negative side effects.”

Consumers who have benefited from purified Omega 7 express a relief from chronic pain and swelling due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Potentially, purified Omega 7 can help fight metabolic syndrome, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and has the potential to manage cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammation.

For a limited time, Cardia 7 is offering a promotion to those who sign up on their website. Through December 16, 2013, new subscribers will be given a promotion code valued at $29.95 to redeem a free box of Cardia 7’s purified Omega 7 supplement. Visit Cardia 7’s website at cardia7.com to learn more.

Published Study Demonstrates Linnea’s HMRlignan Decreases Severe Hot Flashes in Postmenopausal Women ages 50-75

Lignan supplement may help manage postmenopausal conditions without adverse effects of HRT

Linnea SA, a high-quality manufacturer of active ingredients for use in the health food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, announced that “Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability of Plant Lignan 7-Hydroxymatairesinol and Effects on Serum Enterolactone and Clinical Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women: A Single-Blinded, Parallel, Dose-Comparison Study” has been published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

The principal investigator of the study, Dr. Jay Udani of Medicus Research, said, “Not only was the HMRlignan quickly absorbed into the blood, but it was metabolized effectively into enterolactone, which is the form of the ingredient that is useful in humans. In the group receiving the higher dose of the product, there was a 55 percent reduction in the number of hot flashes after only four weeks. These women continued to report a 50 percent reduction in hot flashes through eight weeks. The product was well tolerated throughout the study and these results point toward this product being of potential benefit to women looking to reduce their hot flashes.”

Postmenopausal females ages 50-75, who were not receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT), were enrolled in either a 36 mg/d (low-dose) or 72 mg/d dose (high-dose) regimen for eight weeks. Following a single dose of 36 mg of HMRlignan, maximum plasma levels of 7-HMR were reached in one hour. Maximum plasma levels of enterolactone were reached in 24 hours, suggesting that the ingredient can be taken once daily. In the 72 mg/day group there was a 55 percent reduction in hot flashes at week four and 80 percent fewer severe hot flashes at week eight, with no adverse events noted, and no estrogenic effects measured through blood tests.

“The results of this study hold promise for the potential of a low-dose lignan supplement such as HMRlignan to aid in relief of the symptoms associated with menopause without the adverse effects of HRT,” said Donald Brown, ND, managing director of Natural Product Research Consultants.

A follow-up 12-week study with a larger cohort of postmenopausal women is currently underway to study the effects of HMRlignan on hot flashes.

Thorne Research to Partner in Creating Comprehensive Platform for Personalized Health Products, Services, and Information

Health Elements, LLC, a leader in medically supervised weight loss, today announced the acquisition of WellnessFX, Inc., the leader in technology and services that clinicians and consumers can use to digitally collect, explain, and track personal health data. The acquisition will combine Health Elements and WellnessFX under the WellnessFX brand. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The combined entity will offer health providers and individual patients a range of personalized health services and products, including capabilities in blood testing and other diagnostic tools that can be used to develop more effective health and wellness strategies. In addition, WellnessFX will include access to the full portfolio of products and health information and services available from Thorne Research, a leading provider of nutritional supplements and wellness services available through medical professionals.

“The combination of the Health Elements’ technology platform with WellnessFX’s established brand strengths in personalized health and readily accessible diagnostic services represents a major new advantage for both health professionals and patients,’ said Paul Jacobson, CEO of Thorne Research and WellnessFX, adding, “By bringing these resources together, WellnessFX will make FDA-approved diagnostic, genetic, and treatment information more accessible and usable than ever before to improve the health of thousands of people each year.”

Founded in 2010, WellnessFX provides consumer-based online personalized health software, blood tests through leading laboratories, and consultations with health professionals. Through this acquisition, WellnessFX’s diagnostic tools along with Health Elements’ nutrition tracking tools and other mobile applications will be available to consumers through the 13,000 health practitioners affiliated with Thorne Research. WellnessFX will continue to maintain operations in San Francisco and Los Angeles. In addition to Thorne Research, the largest shareholder in the newly combined entity, other investors include the Helsinn Group, Indena, and HEU Holdings, Inc.

Jim Kean, founder and former CEO of WellnessFX, said, “This collaboration is a milestone event in personalized health, bringing together the industry’s most advanced diagnostic technologies and resources to create an unparalleled opportunity for healthcare professionals to work more effectively with patients. Never before has this seamless range of diagnostic health services and support been available from one location. Wellness FX will make it easier for clinicians and patients to identify the most effective strategies to support weight loss, management of chronic illnesses, and many other health and wellness goals.”

Thorne Research, Dr. Mark Houston, and the Hypertension Institute Launch TruCardia, a New Venture Targeting Cardiovascular Health

TruCardia to offer nutritional supplements and resources to support patient cardiovascular health and better manage cardiovascular risk factors

Thorne Research, Inc.—a leader in developing and manufacturing pure, high-quality nutritional supplements marketed through licensed healthcare practitioners—today announced that the company has partnered with Mark Houston, MD, MS, MSc, and the Hypertension Institute to launch TruCardia, a new venture providing novel nutritional supplements and educational programs to support and promote cardiovascular health. Dr. Houston will lead TruCardia’s efforts to develop a range of nutritional supplements and patient resources. Dr. Houston is the director of the Hypertension Institute. The institute is one of the nation’s leading centers for cardiovascular health and a Cardiovascular Center of Excellence of the Consortium for Southeastern Hypertension Control, treating more than 20,000 patients each year.

The first product available from TruCardia is LipoCardia, a nutritional supplement to help maintain healthy lipid levels. Three additional products will be launched in the first half of 2014: CardioPressin, a nutritional supplement to support normal blood pressure levels, ArterioCare, a nutritional supplement to support coronary artery blood flow and endothelial function to help maintain cardiovascular health, and MitoBio, a nutritional supplement to help promote a healthier dynamic heart, enhance cardiac myocyte function, and promote mitochondrial biogenesis and function.

“Over 15 years of clinical research, experience, and clinical application have gone into the development of the TruCardia suite of nutritional supplements. Thorne Research, known for exceptional quality and purity, is a great partner in this endeavor,” said Dr. Houston.

The TruCardia nutritional supplement product line was developed using the most advanced research technologies available for the support of cardiovascular health. A combination of peer-reviewed medical and scientific literature, metabolomics-based composition and molecular pathway analysis, clinical research, and expert insight was used to determine the range of ingredients and dosing levels to achieve optimal efficacy of the TruCardia nutritional supplement line.

“Cardiovascular disease is the single leading cause of death globally. By educating patients about the prudent use of nutritional supplements, nutrition, effective tools to monitor their cardiovascular health, and choosing healthier lifestyle options, we can help them better manage their risk of cardiovascular disease. There is significant medical evidence indicating that nutritional supplements can positively impact cardiovascular health. TruCardia will offer the finest educational and nutritional resources to make a difference in the lives of people who have cardiovascular disease or who may be at risk,” said Dr. Houston.

In addition to offering high-quality nutritional supplements, TruCardia will also support efforts in cardiovascular research and provide specialized physician and patient education programs in cardiovascular health and prevention and the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

“Thorne Research is proud to offer high-quality, evidence-based nutritional supplements to healthcare providers to help them support the cardiovascular health of their patients. We are pleased to be working with Dr. Houston to develop new resources that will help patients take an active role in maintaining their cardiovascular health. TruCardia is another important milestone for Thorne Research as we continue to expand our product portfolio and support the efforts of healthcare providers to provide their patients with outstanding products backed by innovative programs in patient and clinician education,” said Paul Jacobson, CEO, Thorne Research.

XYMOGEN Launches i5 Energize To Support Gastrointestinal Health And Energy

Orlando-based health-sciences company XYMOGEN announced that i5 Energize, the latest formula in the company’s line of detoxifying biotransformation shake mixes, is now available.

The i5 line represents an innovative approach to biotransformation for individuals whose health is constantly challenged. These all-natural, fructose-free formulas include ingredients that promote overall gastrointestinal health and support as well as the body’s natural ability to detoxify. Featuring patented and proprietary ingredients, i5 supports improved body composition, immune function, and intestinal health, as well as detoxification and antioxidant systems.

i5 Energize adds coffee fruit extract and green coffee bean blend to support healthy energy production and metabolism. It is a wholesome option for individuals seeking to add protein, micronutrients, and fiber to their daily routine. This nutritious and delicious shake provides 80 mg of caffeine per serving—perfect for an energizing breakfast, a pre-workout shake, or a quick afternoon pick-me-up—making i5 Energize a healthy alternative to common energy drinks.

XYMOGEN is renowned for its commitment to innovation in the healthcare industry. The company attributes its reputation to a “people first” culture, which offers employees unprecedented opportunities for discovery, growth, and fulfillment. The business has earned numerous accolades and was recently named for a sixth time to INC Magazine’s list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.

About XYMOGEN

XYMOGEN, a family-owned health sciences company with headquarters in Orlando, Fla., has been providing high-quality dietary supplements to licensed healthcare practitioners for more than a quarter century.

The nutraceutical company has introduced numerous innovations to the functional medicine community; its medical board of advisors consists of clinical practitioners who represent a broad range of specialties.

XYMOGEN’s strength as a company was reinforced in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 when it was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing, best-run, most innovative, and most inspiring private companies in America.

The company’s 136,000-square-foot manufacturing facility is GMP (good manufacturing practices) and GMP for Sport Athletic Banned Substances Program registered by NSF International.

More information is available at www.xymogen.com

New Approach to Assessing the Value of Treatments for Rare Diseases

A study just published by the Office of Health Economics (OHE) and its collaborators demonstrates how medicines for rare disease may be effectively valued using an innovative approach—multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)—that can include all relevant stakeholders, including patients’ groups.

Assessing value for treatments of rare diseases has long been a challenge. The small number of patients affected by each disease make it markedly more time consuming and expensive to compile evidence of treatment effects for rare diseases than for other diseases. Payers recognize that a different approach may be needed to determine reimbursement eligibility and levels for rare disease treatments.

To explore one promising approach, OHE collaborated with GlaxoSmithKline to test the feasibility of using MCDA techniques for valuing medicines for rare disease. The three one-day workshops involved a range of stakeholders, including clinical and health economics experts and representatives of patients’ groups. The objective was to establish and use an explicit framework of decision criteria to value medicines for rare diseases. Participants “weighted” various attributes of the disease and the treatment to reflect the relative importance of each in decisions.

All participants assigned as much weight to attributes of the disease as to attributes of the treatment. Patients’ group representatives, however, gave greater weight than the clinical and health economics experts to the patient’s quality of daily life and less weight to clinical factors.

Jon Sussex, deputy director of OHE and lead researcher on the project, emphasized: “This innovative MCDA approach proved very much ‘fit for purpose.’ We are confident that it can help healthcare payers and their advisers capture and consistently make decisions based on what is most important about new treatments for rare diseases.”

The study is available online: Jon Sussex, et al. A Pilot study of multi-criteria decision analysis for valuing orphan medicines. Value in Health.

http://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/article/S1098-3015%2813%2904356-8/abstract

Tracking Exercise as a Vital Sign Associated with Weight Loss and Better Glucose Control for Patients

Asking patients about their exercise habits was associated with weight loss in overweight patients and improved glucose control for patients with diabetes according to a recently published study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

The health improvements identified from implementation of the Kaiser Permanente Exercise as a Vital Sign program in Northern California were small, but clinically significant. Overweight adult patients with a body mass index of 25 to 29 lost an average of 0.2 more pounds if they received care in one of the four pilot medical centers compared to another nine medical centers that had not yet implemented the program; those with diabetes saw a 0.1 percent greater decline in their HbA1c levels.

Although individual weight loss was modest, when applied to the entire population of overweight Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California, the overall projected weight loss was estimated to exceed 46,000 pounds.

The study examined medical records of adult Kaiser Permanente patients in Northern California after implementation of the Exercise as a Vital Sign pilot program in four medical centers between April 2010 and October 2011. Medical assistants ask patients about their exercise habits and enter this information into the patient’s electronic health record. Researchers looked at more than 1.5 million visits by 696,267 adults to 1,196 primary-care providers.

“Exercise is the cheapest prescription for health,” said Richard W. Grant, MD, MPH, research scientist with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and the study’s lead author. “Asking these questions about exercise is raising awareness with both the patient and the healthcare provider. It gets patients thinking about how much they are exercising and reminds physicians to have that conversation with their patients.”

Kaiser Permanente is the first—and largest—healthcare organization to implement an Exercise Vital Sign in a patient’s electronic health record. The functionality was launched in Kaiser Permanente Southern California in 2009 and has since been implemented across the organization. As part of these efforts, during routine outpatient visits patients are asked how many minutes per week they exercise and their responses are included in their electronic medical record, along with other traditional vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, and temperature.

Kaiser Permanente physicians who identify patients who may benefit from additional physical activity can refer them for telephone health coaching, appointments with behavioral-change specialists, and other programs that promote healthy lifestyles.

Lisa Schilling, RN, MPH, vice president for the Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute, said that the Exercise as a Vital Sign program helped raise the value of exercise so that it’s equal to other vital signs, prompting important conversations between individuals and their providers.

“Asking an individual about how much daily physical activity he or she has helps our providers learn about what matters to our patients and prompts patients to think about healthier habits,” said Schilling. “It also allows us to connect the individual to resources and habits that promote better health.”

Kaiser Permanente can conduct transformational health research such as this study in part because it has the largest private patient-centered electronic health system in the world. The organization’s electronic health record system, Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect®, securely connects 9.1 million patients to 16,000 physicians in almost 600 medical offices and 37 hospitals. It also connects Kaiser Permanente’s research scientists to one of the most extensive collections of longitudinal medical data available, facilitating studies and important medical discoveries that shape the future of health and care delivery for patients and the medical community.

In addition to Dr. Grant, co-authors of the study were Julie Schmittdiel, PhD, Romain S. Neugebauer, PhD, Connie S. Uratsu, RN, PHN, and Barbara Sternfeld, PhD, all of the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research.

International Study Finds Heart Disease Similar in Men and Women

An analysis of data from an international multicenter study of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) reveals that men and women with mild coronary artery disease and similar cardiovascular risk profiles share similar prognoses. Results of the study were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

“We conducted this study because we wanted to understand whether men and women with the same extent of coronary artery disease and similar risk profiles have similar or dissimilar prognoses,” said Jonathon Leipsic, MD, FRCPC, director of medical imaging at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia. “There is a tendency to think women’s heart disease is very different than men’s heart disease. Our data show that once plaque accumulates in the coronary arteries, the prognosis is very similar between men and women.”

Coronary artery disease occurs when the coronary arteries—the major blood vessels that supply the oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle—begin to accumulate a buildup of fatty deposits called plaque. Over time, plaque may damage or narrow the arteries. CCTA is a noninvasive imaging test that uses computed tomography (CT) to image the amount of plaque present in the coronary arteries.

For the study, Dr. Leipsic and a team of researchers used data from the COronary CT Angiography EvaluatioN For Clinical Outcomes: An InteRnational Multicenter (CONFIRM) Registry, which collected information on 27,725 individuals in six countries who underwent CCTA. The registry also included participants’ traditional risk factors, allowing for the derivation of Framingham scores, which are used to determine an individual’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

From the registry, the researchers identified 18,158 patients without known coronary artery disease, whose CCTA results were normal or indicated nonobstructive disease, in which coronary arteries were less than 50 percent blocked. These patients, including 8,808 women and 9,350 men, were then matched on the basis of pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors and the extent of their coronary artery disease as determined by CCTA, resulting in a one-to-one cohort of 11,462 patients.

A statistical analysis of the matched cohort revealed that, controlling for all cardiovascular risk factors, nonobstructive coronary artery disease conferred a similar adverse risk of death or heart attack in both men and women. Conversely, the absence of plaque on CCTA conferred a good prognosis for both men and women. Of the patients in the cohort, only 251 experienced a heart attack or cardiac-related death during an average follow-up period of 2.3 years.

“This analysis is exciting, because this has never been shown before,” Dr. Leipsic said. “There’s a prevailing belief that mild CAD puts women at greater risk for a major cardiac event compared to men with mild CAD. Our findings show this is just not true.”

Co-authors are Stephan Achenbach, MD, Matthew J. Budoff, MD, Ricardo C. Cury, MD, Gudrun Feuchtner, MD, James Min, MD, Leslee Shaw, PhD, Cameron J. Hague, MD, Carolyn Taylor, MD, and Gilat Grunau, PhD.

Periodontal Health An Important Factor To Better Diabetes Control

New clinical recommendations encourage comprehensive periodontal evaluations for people with diabetes

A new consensus report from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) finds that periodontal health may play an important role in the management of diabetes. The report outlines clinical recommendations for dental professionals to use when treating people with diabetes and emphasizes the importance of annual comprehensive periodontal evaluations (CPE) as part of an effective diabetes management program. The consensus report is based on a large body of scientific evidence that suggests periodontal health may be helpful in controlling diabetes.

“The relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes is a bit of a catch-22,” says Dr. Stuart J. Froum, DDS, president of the AAP, clinical professor and director of clinical research in the Department of Periodontics and Implant Dentistry at New York University Dental Center. “People living with diabetes are more likely to develop periodontal disease. At the same time, periodontal disease makes it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their symptoms because it can impair the body’s ability to process and/or utilize insulin.”

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is an inflammatory condition that, if left untreated, may cause damage to the tissues and bone surrounding the teeth and can eventually lead to tooth loss. In addition to diabetes, periodontal disease has been linked to other systemic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease.

“Both periodontal disease and diabetes present serious public health problems, with millions of Americans affected by one or both of these conditions,” says Dr. Froum. “With what we now know about the impact periodontal health has on diabetes management, it is crucial for people diagnosed with diabetes to maintain healthy teeth and gums. This includes diligent home care, including brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day, as well as receiving a CPE from a dental professional at least once a year. Treatment of periodontal disease in patients with diabetes has been shown to improve control of the disease.”

To find out more information about periodontal disease or to find a periodontist in your area, visit perio.org.

The consensus report was published as proceedings from The Joint EFP/AAP Workshop on Periodontitis and Systematic Diseases and was sponsored through an educational grant from Colgate Palmolive. The consensus report can be viewed here: http://www.joponline.org/doi/pdf/10.1902/jop.2013.1340011

Study Suggests Noninvasive Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy May Be Suitable Alternative to Surgery for Early-Stage Lung Cancer Patients

Results of review by Harley Street and University College Hospital London presented in online edition of ‘Radiotherapy and Oncology’ (Green Journal)

Treating early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with advanced radiotherapy appears to be a viable alternative to surgery, according to researchers who carried out a retrospective comparative study sponsored by the London-based South East Cancer Oncology Group.

A review was carried out of treatments given to a large number of patients with stage I NSCLC treated with stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) globally over a seven-year period and the findings have been presented in the latest online edition of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Europe’s leading peer-reviewed industry publication. The review suggests that survival rates can be equivalent to surgery for this population of patients, indicating that a noninvasive, outpatient approach is a viable alternative to traditional surgery.

As described in the study abstract: From a pool of several hundred relevant studies the researchers selected 45 reports covering 3,771 patients treated with SABR for NSCLC that fulfilled the selection criteria. Two-year survival of the 3,201 patients with localized stage I NSCLC treated with SABR was 70% with a two-year tumor control rate of 91%. This was compared to a 68% two-year survival of 2,038 stage I patients treated with surgery.

“This suggests that SABR may offer a viable alternative to surgery for both inoperable and operable early-stage NSCLC patients,” said Dr. Francesca Solda, clinical oncologist at Harley Street, who coordinated the study. “Surgery for lung cancer can have significant side effects and long recovery periods, and our research suggests that outcomes can be comparable between surgery and noninvasive stereotactic body radiotherapy.” While these results are promising, the study points out that data were derived from previously published reports, and that a direct comparison between SABR and conventional surgery should be a priority for further research.

Patients at both Harley Street and University College Hospital London are treated using advanced radiosurgery equipment, including the TrueBeam system from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) for both radiosurgery and conventional fractionated radiotherapy.

*Soldà F, Lodge M, Ashley S, Whitington A, Goldstraw P, Brada M. Stereotactic radiotherapy (SABR) for the treatment of primary non-small cell lung cancer; Systematic review and comparison with a surgical cohort.

Radiother Oncol. 109 (2013) 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radonc.2013.09.006

Disclaimer

The paper summarized here was published by the journal, Radiotherapy and Oncology, online and in the October 2013 issue. Treatment outcomes described in this paper are not intended to represent typical outcomes in a general patient population undergoing stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) for lung cancer. Varian, as a medical device manufacturer, cannot and does not recommend any treatment technique or schedule. The study reviewed the results of SABR treatments for early-stage lung cancer at numerous sites around the world over a seven-year period, using diverse technologies for the delivery of SABR. Varian Medical Systems manufactures such devices; however, the study did not require that patients receive treatment on any particular SBRT system.

Important Safety Information

Radiation treatments may cause side effects that can vary depending on the part of the body being treated. The most frequent ones are typically temporary and may include, but are not limited to, irritation to the respiratory, digestive, urinary, or reproductive systems; fatigue; nausea; skin irritation; and hair loss. In some patients, they can be severe, and can include but are not limited to radiation-induced liver disease (or radiation hepatitis), fractured ribs, and persistent nausea. Treatment sessions may vary in complexity and time. Radiation treatment is not appropriate for all cancers. Cancer patients should discuss the potential for side effects and their severity as well as the benefits of radiation with their doctors to determine if radiation treatments are right for them.

About Varian Medical Systems

Varian Medical Systems, Inc, of Palo Alto, California, is the world’s leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers, and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 6,400 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and 72 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit varian.com or follow us on Twitter.