Painkiller linked to stroke

Amy Corderoy 

September 14, 2010

ONE OF Australia's best-selling painkillers should be banned, according to the co-author of a study that linked it to an increased chance of stroke in healthy people.
Commonly sold as Voltaren, but available in a number of brands, it is one of a class of drugs found by a Danish study to increase the risk of stroke.
Diclofenac, the key ingredient in Voltaren, is as dangerous as the arthritis drug Vioxx, said study author and senior cardiologist at Gentofte University Hospital, Gunnar Gislason.
Vioxx was withdrawn in Australia in 2004 because of an increased risk of heart attack.
The eight-year study examined data from more than 2.6 million Danes who had a prescription for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The study found diclofenac, increased the risk of stroke by 86 per cent in people not previously thought to be at risk.
Another drug in the same class, ibuprofen, sold as Nurofen and Advil, was linked to a 30 per cent increased risk of stroke when more than 1200 milligrams were taken.
Dr Gislason, said ibuprofen should be prescription-only and diclofenac should be banned.
Ric Day, a professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of New South Wales, said people at risk of heart attack and stroke ''should be properly informed that at high doses the drugs could be dangerous''.
David Henry, an adjunct professor at the University of Newcastle, said diclofenac had consistently been shown to pose the same heart attack risk as Vioxx.
''There is no good reason why diclofenac should stay on the market, but drug regulation authorities have not taken it on as an issue,'' he said.
A spokeswoman for the Therapeutic Goods Administration said it had received eight reports of heart attacks and one of angina in patients taking diclofenac where a causal association was suspected. There had been none in patients taking ibuprofen.
A spokeswoman from Novartis Australia, which makes Voltaren, said the company did not believe the findings altered the benefit-to-risk assessment for diclofenac.
She said the drug should be used at the lowest possible dose for the shortest duration, in accordance with the doctor's or pharmacist's directions.

Amy Corderoy 

September 14, 2010

ONE OF Australia's best-selling painkillers should be banned, according to the co-author of a study that linked it to an increased chance of stroke in healthy people.
Commonly sold as Voltaren, but available in a number of brands, it is one of a class of drugs found by a Danish study to increase the risk of stroke.
Diclofenac, the key ingredient in Voltaren, is as dangerous as the arthritis drug Vioxx, said study author and senior cardiologist at Gentofte University Hospital, Gunnar Gislason.
Vioxx was withdrawn in Australia in 2004 because of an increased risk of heart attack.
The eight-year study examined data from more than 2.6 million Danes who had a prescription for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The study found diclofenac, increased the risk of stroke by 86 per cent in people not previously thought to be at risk.
Another drug in the same class, ibuprofen, sold as Nurofen and Advil, was linked to a 30 per cent increased risk of stroke when more than 1200 milligrams were taken.
Dr Gislason, said ibuprofen should be prescription-only and diclofenac should be banned.
Ric Day, a professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of New South Wales, said people at risk of heart attack and stroke ''should be properly informed that at high doses the drugs could be dangerous''.
David Henry, an adjunct professor at the University of Newcastle, said diclofenac had consistently been shown to pose the same heart attack risk as Vioxx.
''There is no good reason why diclofenac should stay on the market, but drug regulation authorities have not taken it on as an issue,'' he said.
A spokeswoman for the Therapeutic Goods Administration said it had received eight reports of heart attacks and one of angina in patients taking diclofenac where a causal association was suspected. There had been none in patients taking ibuprofen.
A spokeswoman from Novartis Australia, which makes Voltaren, said the company did not believe the findings altered the benefit-to-risk assessment for diclofenac.
She said the drug should be used at the lowest possible dose for the shortest duration, in accordance with the doctor's or pharmacist's directions.

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Bells on Cat Collars

Gordon JK, Matthaei C, van Heezik Y: Belled collars reduce catch of domestic cats in New Zealand by half, Wildlife Research 37:372, 2010.

Domestic cats, both feral and pet, can be significant predators of small wildlife in urban and suburban settings. In many countries, outdoor access for owned cats is common. While belled collars are a simple and inexpensive way to mitigate predatory behavior, public perception is often that they do not work. Researchers in New Zealand investigated the effectiveness of belled collars to reduce prey catches. Thirty households with a total of 45 cats participated in the study, as owners of these cats reported at least one prey catch per cat per week. Cats were assessed for successful predation for 6 weeks with a collar, and 6 weeks without a collar. Cats were divided into two groups with equal proportions of males and females. One group wore the belled collar the first six weeks, the second group wore the collar the second six weeks. Predation of birds was reduced 50%, and of rodents, 61%. Numbers of rats, lizards and insects were not affected. Gender, age, and season did not affect the results. The researchers concluded that belled collars were effective at reducing successful predation. [MK]

Related articles:
Lord LK: Attitudes toward and perceptions of free-roaming cats among individuals living in Ohio, J Am Vet Med Assoc 232:1159, 2008.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Gordon JK, Matthaei C, van Heezik Y: Belled collars reduce catch of domestic cats in New Zealand by half, Wildlife Research 37:372, 2010.

Domestic cats, both feral and pet, can be significant predators of small wildlife in urban and suburban settings. In many countries, outdoor access for owned cats is common. While belled collars are a simple and inexpensive way to mitigate predatory behavior, public perception is often that they do not work. Researchers in New Zealand investigated the effectiveness of belled collars to reduce prey catches. Thirty households with a total of 45 cats participated in the study, as owners of these cats reported at least one prey catch per cat per week. Cats were assessed for successful predation for 6 weeks with a collar, and 6 weeks without a collar. Cats were divided into two groups with equal proportions of males and females. One group wore the belled collar the first six weeks, the second group wore the collar the second six weeks. Predation of birds was reduced 50%, and of rodents, 61%. Numbers of rats, lizards and insects were not affected. Gender, age, and season did not affect the results. The researchers concluded that belled collars were effective at reducing successful predation. [MK]

Related articles:
Lord LK: Attitudes toward and perceptions of free-roaming cats among individuals living in Ohio, J Am Vet Med Assoc 232:1159, 2008.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

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Connect With Winn!

Winn's goal is to help "Every Cat, Every Day" and we can only do this with your assistance. Stay in touch with our activities and learn how you can become involved in the future of feline health.

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Virtual Memorials for special cats loved by special owners

Winn's goal is to help "Every Cat, Every Day" and we can only do this with your assistance. Stay in touch with our activities and learn how you can become involved in the future of feline health.

Join over 2,800 other cat lovers on our Facebook page.

Follow us on Twitter and help spread the word!

Subscribe to our email newsletter - we promise, no spam :-)
  

Virtual Memorials for special cats loved by special owners

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Cranberry Juice Shows Promise Blocking Staph Infections

ScienceDaily (Sep. 3, 2010) — Expanding their scope of study on the mechanisms of bacterial infection, researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have reported the surprise finding from a small clinical study that cranberry juice cocktail blocked a strain of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) from beginning the process of infection.

The data was reported in a poster presentation at the American Chemical Society's national meeting in Boston on August 23, 2010, by Terri Camesano, professor of chemical engineering at WPI. "Most of our work with cranberry juice has been with E. coli and urinary tract infections, but we included Staphylococcus aureus in this study because it is a very serious health threat," Camesano said. "This is early data, but the results are surprising."

The virulent form of E. coli that Camesano studies is the primary cause of most urinary tract infections. Strains of S. aureus can cause a range of "staph infections" from minor skin rashes to serious bloodstream infections. One particular strain, known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is a growing public health problem in hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions because it doesn't respond to most antibiotics.

To cause an infection, bacteria must first adhere to a host, then gather together in colonies to form a biofilm. In the current study, Camesano recruited healthy female students at WPI to drink either cranberry juice cocktail or a placebo fluid that looked and tasted like cranberry juice. The subjects provides urine samples at prescribed intervals after drinking the juice or placebo, and those samples were incubated in petri dishes with several strains of E. coli and a single strain of S. aureus. Camesano's team stained the bacteria with a special dye, then used a spectrophotometer to measure the density of the bacterial colonies in the dishes over time. Their analysis showed that the urine samples from subjects who had recently consumed cranberry juice cocktail significantly reduced the ability of E. coli and S. aureus to form biofilms on the surface of the dishes.

"What was surprising is that Staphylococcus aureus showed the most significant results in this study," Camesano said. "We saw essentially no biofilm in the staph samples, which is very surprising because Staph aureus is usually very good at forming biofilms. That's what makes it such a health problem."

With E. coli, Camesano's focal point is the small hair-like projections known as fimbriae, which act like hooks and help the bacteria latch onto cells that line the urinary tract. Camesano has shown that exposure to cranberry juice causes the fimbriae on E. coli to curl up, blunting their ability to attach to cells. S. aureous, however, doesn't have fimbirae, so there must be other reasons why the cranberry juice affected its biofilm formation in the study. "These results do create more questions than answers," Camesano said. "We believe this is an important new area to explore, and we are now thinking about how best to proceed."

Since bacterial adhesion is required for infection, Camesano hopes that better understanding of the specific mechanisms and forces involved in biofilm formation will help inform future studies aimed at identifying potential drug targets for new antibiotics. The data may also be useful in studies aimed at engineering the surfaces of invasive medical devices like catheters to make them more resistant to bacterial adhesion.

The research detailed in the current study was supported by grants from the Cranberry Institute and the Wisconsin Cranberry Board.

ScienceDaily (Sep. 3, 2010) — Expanding their scope of study on the mechanisms of bacterial infection, researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have reported the surprise finding from a small clinical study that cranberry juice cocktail blocked a strain of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) from beginning the process of infection.

The data was reported in a poster presentation at the American Chemical Society's national meeting in Boston on August 23, 2010, by Terri Camesano, professor of chemical engineering at WPI. "Most of our work with cranberry juice has been with E. coli and urinary tract infections, but we included Staphylococcus aureus in this study because it is a very serious health threat," Camesano said. "This is early data, but the results are surprising."

The virulent form of E. coli that Camesano studies is the primary cause of most urinary tract infections. Strains of S. aureus can cause a range of "staph infections" from minor skin rashes to serious bloodstream infections. One particular strain, known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is a growing public health problem in hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions because it doesn't respond to most antibiotics.

To cause an infection, bacteria must first adhere to a host, then gather together in colonies to form a biofilm. In the current study, Camesano recruited healthy female students at WPI to drink either cranberry juice cocktail or a placebo fluid that looked and tasted like cranberry juice. The subjects provides urine samples at prescribed intervals after drinking the juice or placebo, and those samples were incubated in petri dishes with several strains of E. coli and a single strain of S. aureus. Camesano's team stained the bacteria with a special dye, then used a spectrophotometer to measure the density of the bacterial colonies in the dishes over time. Their analysis showed that the urine samples from subjects who had recently consumed cranberry juice cocktail significantly reduced the ability of E. coli and S. aureus to form biofilms on the surface of the dishes.

"What was surprising is that Staphylococcus aureus showed the most significant results in this study," Camesano said. "We saw essentially no biofilm in the staph samples, which is very surprising because Staph aureus is usually very good at forming biofilms. That's what makes it such a health problem."

With E. coli, Camesano's focal point is the small hair-like projections known as fimbriae, which act like hooks and help the bacteria latch onto cells that line the urinary tract. Camesano has shown that exposure to cranberry juice causes the fimbriae on E. coli to curl up, blunting their ability to attach to cells. S. aureous, however, doesn't have fimbirae, so there must be other reasons why the cranberry juice affected its biofilm formation in the study. "These results do create more questions than answers," Camesano said. "We believe this is an important new area to explore, and we are now thinking about how best to proceed."

Since bacterial adhesion is required for infection, Camesano hopes that better understanding of the specific mechanisms and forces involved in biofilm formation will help inform future studies aimed at identifying potential drug targets for new antibiotics. The data may also be useful in studies aimed at engineering the surfaces of invasive medical devices like catheters to make them more resistant to bacterial adhesion.

The research detailed in the current study was supported by grants from the Cranberry Institute and the Wisconsin Cranberry Board.

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Feline Vestibular Disease

Negrin A, Cherubini GB, Lamb C et al: Clinical signs, magnetic resonance imaging findings and outcome in 77 cats with vestibular disease: a retrospective study, Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 12:291, 2010.

The medical records of 77 cats were reviewed to describe the epidemiology, clinical and MRI findings in cats with vestibular signs and to identify any association between these variables and patient outcome.  Vestibular disease is defined on the basis of observing a loss of balance, typical ataxia, head tilt, spontaneous/positional nystagmus and/or positional strabismus.  Cats with these signs alone were classified with peripheral vestibular disease (PVD). Cats with a markedly depressed mental state, proprioceptive deficits, and cranial nerve deficits were classified with central vestibular disease (CVD). Forty cats (52%) were designated to have unilateral CVD, one cat had paradoxical vestibular syndrome, and the remaining 36 (47%) cats had PVD, of which 5 had bilateral clinical signs. The most frequent cause of CVD was inflammation including bacterial inflammation as an extension of intracranial otitis interna, feline infectious peritonitis, and toxoplasmosis. Neoplasia was in second place and vascular disease in third as causes of CVD.  In cats with PVD signs, idiopathic conditions and otitis media/interna were equally represented. Most of the cats (9 cases) with presumed idiopathic vestibular disease had rapid and complete recovery. Statistically significant predictors of survival included neurolocalization (central or peripheral vestibular system), age and gender. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was found to be very useful in the diagnosis of both peripheral and central vestibular disease. Prognosis appears to be directly associated with the site (intracranial versus extracranial) rather than the nature of the lesion. [VT]

Related articles:
Rossmeisl JH, Jr.: Vestibular disease in dogs and cats, Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 40:81, 2010.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Negrin A, Cherubini GB, Lamb C et al: Clinical signs, magnetic resonance imaging findings and outcome in 77 cats with vestibular disease: a retrospective study, Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 12:291, 2010.

The medical records of 77 cats were reviewed to describe the epidemiology, clinical and MRI findings in cats with vestibular signs and to identify any association between these variables and patient outcome.  Vestibular disease is defined on the basis of observing a loss of balance, typical ataxia, head tilt, spontaneous/positional nystagmus and/or positional strabismus.  Cats with these signs alone were classified with peripheral vestibular disease (PVD). Cats with a markedly depressed mental state, proprioceptive deficits, and cranial nerve deficits were classified with central vestibular disease (CVD). Forty cats (52%) were designated to have unilateral CVD, one cat had paradoxical vestibular syndrome, and the remaining 36 (47%) cats had PVD, of which 5 had bilateral clinical signs. The most frequent cause of CVD was inflammation including bacterial inflammation as an extension of intracranial otitis interna, feline infectious peritonitis, and toxoplasmosis. Neoplasia was in second place and vascular disease in third as causes of CVD.  In cats with PVD signs, idiopathic conditions and otitis media/interna were equally represented. Most of the cats (9 cases) with presumed idiopathic vestibular disease had rapid and complete recovery. Statistically significant predictors of survival included neurolocalization (central or peripheral vestibular system), age and gender. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was found to be very useful in the diagnosis of both peripheral and central vestibular disease. Prognosis appears to be directly associated with the site (intracranial versus extracranial) rather than the nature of the lesion. [VT]

Related articles:
Rossmeisl JH, Jr.: Vestibular disease in dogs and cats, Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 40:81, 2010.

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Broccoli 'boosts' healthy gut

Extracts of broccoli and banana may help in fighting stomach problems, research suggests.

Laboratory studies show fibres from the vegetables may boost the body's natural defences against stomach infections.

Trials are under way to see if they could be used as a medical food for patients with Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes symptoms such as diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

Scientists at the University of Liverpool looked at how roughage from vegetables influenced the passage of harmful bacteria through cells inside the gut.

They found that fibres from the plantain, a type of large banana, and broccoli, were particularly beneficial. But a common stabiliser added to processed foods during the manufacturing process had the opposite effect.

Dr Barry Campbell, from the University of Liverpool, said: "This research shows that different dietary components can have powerful effects on the movement of bacteria through the bowel.

"We have known for some time the general health benefits of eating plantain and broccoli, which are both high in vitamins and minerals, but until now we have not understood how they can boost the body's natural defences against infection common in Crohn's patients.

"Our work suggests that it might be important for patients with this condition to eat healthily and limit their intake of processed foods."

M-cells

The research, published in the journal Gut, and carried out in collaboration with experts in Sweden and Scotland, investigated special cells, called M-cells, which line the gut and ward off invading bacteria.

Work was carried out in laboratory-grown cells and tissue samples from patients undergoing surgery for stomach problems.

Clinical trials are now underway in 76 Crohn's patients to find out whether a medical food containing plantain fibres could help keep the disease at bay.

"It may be that it makes sense for sufferers of Crohn's to take supplements of these fibres to help prevent relapse," said Professor Jon Rhodes of the University of Liverpool.

Commenting on the study, a spokesperson for Crohn's and Colitis, which represents patients with inflammatory bowel disorders, welcomed further insight into how the gut combats bacteria like E.Coli.

"Knowledge of the M-cell role offers a more detailed explanation as to why a healthy diet can improve the health and well being for people with Crohn's disease and healthy individuals alike," she said.

Extracts of broccoli and banana may help in fighting stomach problems, research suggests.

Laboratory studies show fibres from the vegetables may boost the body's natural defences against stomach infections.

Trials are under way to see if they could be used as a medical food for patients with Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes symptoms such as diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

Scientists at the University of Liverpool looked at how roughage from vegetables influenced the passage of harmful bacteria through cells inside the gut.

They found that fibres from the plantain, a type of large banana, and broccoli, were particularly beneficial. But a common stabiliser added to processed foods during the manufacturing process had the opposite effect.

Dr Barry Campbell, from the University of Liverpool, said: "This research shows that different dietary components can have powerful effects on the movement of bacteria through the bowel.

"We have known for some time the general health benefits of eating plantain and broccoli, which are both high in vitamins and minerals, but until now we have not understood how they can boost the body's natural defences against infection common in Crohn's patients.

"Our work suggests that it might be important for patients with this condition to eat healthily and limit their intake of processed foods."

M-cells

The research, published in the journal Gut, and carried out in collaboration with experts in Sweden and Scotland, investigated special cells, called M-cells, which line the gut and ward off invading bacteria.

Work was carried out in laboratory-grown cells and tissue samples from patients undergoing surgery for stomach problems.

Clinical trials are now underway in 76 Crohn's patients to find out whether a medical food containing plantain fibres could help keep the disease at bay.

"It may be that it makes sense for sufferers of Crohn's to take supplements of these fibres to help prevent relapse," said Professor Jon Rhodes of the University of Liverpool.

Commenting on the study, a spokesperson for Crohn's and Colitis, which represents patients with inflammatory bowel disorders, welcomed further insight into how the gut combats bacteria like E.Coli.

"Knowledge of the M-cell role offers a more detailed explanation as to why a healthy diet can improve the health and well being for people with Crohn's disease and healthy individuals alike," she said.

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Splenectomy in Cats

Gordon SSN, McClaran JK, Bergman PJ et al: Outcome following splenectomy in cats, Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 12:256, 2010.

A complete splenectomy is indicated as a treatment for suspected malignant neoplasia or generalized splenic enlargement secondary to infiltrative disease of the spleen. The most common splenic diseases in cats are mast cell tumors (MCTs), lymphoma, and myeloproliferative disease. There have been no studies that examine prognostic factors for survival of cats undergoing splenectomy.  The medical records of 19 cats were reviewed for this study. The most common reasons for splenectomy in these cats were MCTs (53%), hemangiosarcoma (21%), and lymphoma (11%). A number of studies, including this one, indicate systemic mastocytosis with splenic involvement appears to be the most common cause of spenomegaly and splenic disease in domestic cats. Anorexia, significant weight loss, and male gender have been shown to be negative prognostic indicators for cats with splenic MCTs.  Three cats in this study had preoperative weight loss and this was the only factor identified as a prognostic indicator of survival following surgery. The median survival time for cats with weight loss was 3 days. In cats with no weight loss, the median survival time was 293 days. [VT]

Related articles:
Litster AL, Sorenmo KU: Characterisation of the signalment, clinical and survival characteristics of 41 cats with mast cell neoplasia, J Feline Med Surg 8:177, 2006.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Gordon SSN, McClaran JK, Bergman PJ et al: Outcome following splenectomy in cats, Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 12:256, 2010.

A complete splenectomy is indicated as a treatment for suspected malignant neoplasia or generalized splenic enlargement secondary to infiltrative disease of the spleen. The most common splenic diseases in cats are mast cell tumors (MCTs), lymphoma, and myeloproliferative disease. There have been no studies that examine prognostic factors for survival of cats undergoing splenectomy.  The medical records of 19 cats were reviewed for this study. The most common reasons for splenectomy in these cats were MCTs (53%), hemangiosarcoma (21%), and lymphoma (11%). A number of studies, including this one, indicate systemic mastocytosis with splenic involvement appears to be the most common cause of spenomegaly and splenic disease in domestic cats. Anorexia, significant weight loss, and male gender have been shown to be negative prognostic indicators for cats with splenic MCTs.  Three cats in this study had preoperative weight loss and this was the only factor identified as a prognostic indicator of survival following surgery. The median survival time for cats with weight loss was 3 days. In cats with no weight loss, the median survival time was 293 days. [VT]

Related articles:
Litster AL, Sorenmo KU: Characterisation of the signalment, clinical and survival characteristics of 41 cats with mast cell neoplasia, J Feline Med Surg 8:177, 2006.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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