Sunday, February 15, 2009

Consuming olive oil delays the onset of chronic diseases and improves the quality of life in old age.

- Virgin olive oil and extra virgin have a special effect for its richness in monounsaturated fat and antioxidants, and micronutrients.

- The scientific community encourages producers to invest in these types of oils that are authentic fruit juices therefore particularly healthy.

- The latest research findings on how diet influences health will be presented at the symposium on olive oil, moderate inflammation and aging Dr. Francisco Pérez Jiménez in the II International Congress on Olive Oil and Health (CIAS 2008) to be held in Córdoba and Jaén from 20 to 22 November 2008.

Aging is a process that develops gradually over the life and whose main events (cardiovascular, cognitive brain cancer and osteoporosis) are favored by the presence of chronic inflammation, low intensity. This inflammation has many causes, one of them being the existence of oxidative phenomena in living beings. And here is where olive oil, as part of the Mediterranean Diet can dampen the inflammation and delay the onset of these diseases, says Professor Francisco Perez Jimenez.

Unlike other oils such as corn, soy or almond, olive oil prevents aging with his own stamp that differentiation depends on two factors. On the one hand, its richness in monounsaturated fat, and that when he joined the agency exerts more beneficial effects than other fat in the rate of cholesterol, blood pressure and preventing oxidation. On the other hand, its richness in antioxidants and micronutrients, a specific characteristic of the virgin and extra virgin oils, notes Pérez Jiménez, the rest of the oil must be refined for consumption as they lose those components. "The effect of fat, decreasing risk factors and oxidation, their micronutrients, are favorable to health by reducing the mechanisms that favor the development of chronic diseases," he explains.

With regard to improving the quality of life in old age, the doctor added that several studies have shown that consumption of Mediterranean diet promotes longevity and aging with both an improved quality of life. "This phenomenon has been located with healthy diets, but there was no olive oil in the diet. But undoubtedly the Mediterranean diet which includes olive oil as essential fat, is one of the best models. The higher quality of life in old age is attributed to the fact that this diet reduces chronic diseases such as heart, cancer and neurodegenerative (Parkinson and Alzheimer).

Currently the research focuses on analyzing the machinery of the cell and see how it changes with diet and identify the different components of olive oil that can be most beneficial.

The latest research findings on the role of olive oil in the prevention of aging will be presented at the symposium on this specific topic will moderate the Pérez Jiménez, in the II International Congress on Olive Oil and Health (CIAS 2008) to be held in Cordoba and Jaen 20 to November 22. This seminar will address the role of inflammation in the aging process and the pathophysiology of aging and longevity, among other topics.

Pérez Jiménez gave the olive sector to ensure production quality standards looking healthy: "Every day there is more information on the health effects posed by the presence of micro-and antioxidants in olive oil, so production should be geared to achieving oils rich in these products, which are an example of virgin and extra virgin oils of higher quality. It would, in short to reduce the percentage devoted to refining, which is then sold as "olive oil" but that has less of these components. "

Knowledge of the human genome helps us customize our diet.

VIII Congress of the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition (SENC).

- The Tomás Pascual Sanz promotes healthy habits to prevent future diseases.

Valencia has carried out the VIII Congress of the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition (SENC). The goal of this conference was none other than the latest developments and changes in the field of food, nutrition and public health.

Under this framework, the Instituto Tomás Pascual Sanz organized and sponsored a panel discussion on "Nutrigenomics and other-omics sciences, ie in-depth study and knowledge of metabolism, gene-nutrient interactions and food, with the to improve nutrition and health, and provide a personalized nutrition.

Daniel Sacristán, investigator of the cardiovascular research unit at the Hospital Clínico San Carlos de Madrid, stressed the importance of studying the expression of proteins in our body to help prevent disease. Sacristán says that having a greater knowledge of our proteins and studies in depth, it could change a clinical diagnosis and the study of these and other parameters can help solve health problems related to nutrition such as obesity or diabetes.

This in-depth study in medicine is called proteomics, and also can prevent diseases related to nutrition may also be a useful tool and complementary to other methods commonly used in evaluating the performance and physical condition of the athlete can provide information about the metabolic efficiency and nutritional status of the athlete.

Victoria Arija, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University Rovio i Virgili spoke on "New developments in the study of iron and its genetics. Arija said that the presence of mutations in the HFE gene can create a partial or total dysfunction of the protein that regulates iron metabolism. The professor added that diet may influence this type of pathology, and that the intake of foods rich in iron and alcohol increased the levels of iron overload in the body while decreasing the dairy.

On the other hand, Manuel Porter, professor of Fisilología of the Faculty of Medicine and Vice-Lérida head of the University of Lerida, spoke of the "Insulin and its triggers." Porter stressed the importance of diet in the prevention of Insulin. "Carrying a food high in fat and sugar, excess calories and physical inactivity may be risk factors for various diseases detonate. Porter also noted that a study of individual nutrients may help the development of insulin resistance.

The scientific sessions will be organized around lectures, round tables and symposia. Also conducted workshops and made themselves known relevant new publications in the field of nutrition, different from their face

In 2020 80% of Spanish hospitals have electronic prescribing, which will avoid many errors in the administration of drugs.

• In the future we must determine a policy of zero tolerance for errors related to the use of medication in the hospital.
• The most common errors are to be administered an inadequate dose, wrong patient, route of administration or the indication for which it was established that treatment is not the most appropriate.
• Currently, only 10% of Spanish hospitals with electronic prescribing. In the United States, 7%. This system helps to minimize errors in the distribution process, administration and prescribing of drugs.
• In this day have been the foundation to produce a major transformation of services and management of the hospital pharmacy.


Nearly a hundred Canadian pharmacists have attended the day I applied to the management of Hospital Pharmacy sponsored by Gilead Sciences, which was held in Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz. Under the slogan "The leap from a good management to good management", has highlighted the importance of pharmacy services in hospitals incorporate elements of both security of medicines and sanitary materials, and that these services are a great willingness and ability to innovate, to be transferred to the field of every aspect of hospital pharmacy.

Dr. Jose Luis Poveda, president of the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy, Head of Pharmacy Services, Hospital Universitario La Fe Hospital in Valencia and member of the Scientific Committee of the Conference, explained that "at present, is establishing a new development framework that is allowing us to acquire new responsibilities in patient care and contribute to the optimization of resources, proper treatment of them and be a key to ensure sustainability and contribute to the health system. " In this regard, Dr qualifies Poveda who are developing new strategies and incorporating new technologies, automated systems for dispensing medicines, the incorporation of bar codes to identify drugs or the incorporation of automation and electronic prescribing " . Technological elements, all aimed at achieving the efficient and safe medication. "We now have the challenge of transferring to our routine," he explains.

Avoid mistakes

Since the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy is developing a plan of action that has been marked as a primary objective "in 2020 to 80% of hospitals have electronic prescribing. This is a very ambitious goal, as an example in which currently only 7% of U.S. hospitals have this technology in our country and around the 10% ".
Electronic prescribing will help reduce many errors in the prescribing of drugs and will help the process of collaboration with the clinical team. The specialist said that Valencia is very important to minimize errors in the distribution process, administration and prescribing of drugs, "something that is happening globally, even in those countries more advanced than our health , so we are trying to develop strategies that improve the safety of the drug. We would like in the future to determine a policy of zero tolerance for errors related to use of the product. "

Err in prescribing a medication is an important clinical consequence, the potential adverse effects for the patient and its impact on morbidity and mortality figures. The most common faults are that "producta is a mistake because the patient does not give the correct dose, wrong patient, the manner of administering the drug is most appropriate because orally administered intravenously to, or that the indication for it was established that treatment is not the best. " Commit such an error leads to an impact on pharmaceutical expenditure is very significant.

Establishing processes for electronic prescription, it is not only addressing the electronic record that medication, if not to develop databases of knowledge related to the drug when prescribed is known, for example, what is the maximum dose, if the conditions of the patient need to modify the dose, possible interactions that can take the drug that is prescribed in the patient or what the most appropriate route of administration.

In this sense, the hospital pharmacy services are working together with the addresses and addresses of medical resources to try to optimize the use of resources. In the choice of drugs is still a very rigorous process to select those to be used in the hospital. Dr. Poveda said that "the entire range of products is available on the market we selected those active principles which we believe meets the criteria that will give better results. Besides participating in the process of distributing drugs through unit dose to prevent the inappropriate use of doses that will not be administered to patients. "In turn, the monitoring is key to which the drug and the search for results in terms of health and contribution to the multidisciplinary clinicians at the time to bring those elements of abuse of these drugs so they can be changed or choose other more effective and to ensure maximum result of the resources that are are investing.

Ability to innovate

Small innovators get great results. For the management of the hospital pharmacy is necessary to continue learning to improve its management. Dr. Joaquin Giráldez, Director of Pharmacy Department of the University Clinic of Navarra and Coordinator of the Day I Management applied to hospital pharmacy, which qualifies in this reunion will have the foundation to produce a large transformation services and management of the hospital pharmacy. Many of the hospitals in Spain are stagnating, with an operating system that old work does not meet the needs and opportunities of today and it is urgent to undertake a series of changes that will update the management of hospital pharmacies. "

Dr. Giráldez ensures that "no one should be unchanging. We must adapt to new resources, integrate them into our system and make the most of the team that makes up the hospital pharmacy.

In this sense, the specialist of Navarre that he should meet personally with our team, as if each of them, to try to be as effective as possible in carrying out their work. Each person has a computer must be in appropriate locations, one in which they can develop their attitudes and qualities, giving each a role and they feel involved with the work done and they are playing. "

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Alcohol and Health, do not go together.

• Ethanol, a major component of any alcoholic beverage, affects the central nervous system, causing different types of diseases, accidents, abuse and unwanted pregnancies

• The 9.3% of potential years of life lost attributable to alcohol consumption

• The message should be "no drink" states Angel Velasco, Chairman of FARE

In recent days emerging information on various perceived benefits of alcohol consumption for the prevention of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's or unwanted effects such as dehydration. However, the analysis of deaths by cause of death concluded the opposite. According to Mr. Angel Velasco, President of the Federation of Alcoholics rehabilitated Spain (FARE), "It's a shame that they will embrace this kind of messages to the public. Are messages that depart completely from reality. Alcohol seriously impairs the health, cause accidents, abuse, unwanted pregnancy, among others. " She adds "These confusing messages to young people and predispose them to uncontrolled consumption of alcohol. Alcohol is not a consumer product, is a drug and the media should warn of the dangers. "


Mortality and alcohol

Rather than note that alcohol can have beneficial effects on health, the study "Mortality and premature deaths related to alcohol consumption in Spain between 1999 and 2004" published last month in Clinical Medicine, is responsible for confirming the opposite, warning that alcohol consumption is a major cause of death in our country. In absolute numbers, the study states that the percentage of mortality attributable to alcohol consumption was 2.1%.

Among the chronic process, two of every three deaths from causes related to chronic alcohol consumption were due to diseases of the digestive system, particularly the cirrhotic process. Between acute, unintentional accidents, including traffic accidents (with 15% of all deaths attributable to alcohol) were the leading cause of death.
Similarly, one of the objectives of the work focused on assessing the effects of alcohol as a cause of premature mortality and the results leave no doubt. Thus, the authors of the paper said that "9.3% of potential years of life lost attributable to alcohol, a figure close to the rates for smoking.

"The results show that alcohol consumption is a major cause of mortality and causes a high premature mortality, and possible 'benefit' on mortality is negligible compared to the damage that occurs," says the study. Of the 51,351 deaths attributable to alcohol consumption that occurred in Spain during the period studied, only 17 cases were observed in a "delay" in mortality compared to 51,368 deaths caused by alcohol consumption.

Physical performance and alcohol

There have been various studies on the effects of alcohol and physical performance in humans and one of the most recent is the American College of Sports Medicine, found that acute alcohol consumption exerts a negative effect on psychomotor, as time reaction, and hand-eye coordination, accuracy, balance and coordination.

The work adds that alcohol may decrease the strength, power, local muscular tolerance, speed and cardiovascular tolerance. Moreover, he concludes: "We must educate athletes, leaders, educators, doctors, coaches, media, etc.. to know the effect of alcohol on physical performance and the acute and chronic disorders that may occur. "

Ethanol (a major component of any alcoholic beverage) affects the central nervous system, causing euphoria, disinhibition, dizziness, decrease in response to reflexes, drowsiness, hallucinations, confusion, etc.. According to the study added, the alcohol affects the complexity of dopamine at an early stage, causing euphoria and loss of fear, the only effect that could be considered positive for the sport.
Thus, consumption of alcohol mixed with physical exercise is a very unwise practice after training and matches. Alcohol promotes dehydration, and even minimal degree (a loss equivalent to 1% of body weight) can have a negative effect on performance.

Professional sports are often severely restrict the consumption of alcohol after physical activity, as expressed Esteban Vigo, former player of FC Current coach of Barcelona and Deportivo Xerez. "We prohibit the players drinking alcohol, including beer, after training or matches, and for mergers. Any doctor or nutritionist for a professional club always advise that provision, "he said.

Ultimately, doctors, coaches, teachers, parents and other social actors, it would have a preventive role of promoting actions that promote a healthy lifestyle and report on all the health risks associated with alcohol consumption. According to Angel Velasco, this is a difficult task because "we must fight against the economic interests of the industry Alcoholera seeking to promote the daily consumption of alcohol. The message should be "no drink".

The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients are demanding more specialized units ELA to prevent discrimination.

• First Service Center for ALS patients in Spain held in Madrid today an open day.

• Madrid, the five ALS units in public hospitals, the head of the autonomous communities to offer health care to the sick.

• While small steps have been made in basic research today, patients can only resort to palliative treatments.

Madrid has five ALS units in public hospitals
Carlos III, La Paz, Gregorio Marañón, October 12 Clínico San Carlos, and from those offering patients multidisciplinary treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) needs. The ELA, which in our country affects 3.5 persons per 100,000 inhabitants, is today one of the most cruel that exists because of the disability it causes, the lack of cure and short life expectancy for patients between 2 and 5 years.

Madrid is a pioneer in the development of ALS units in the hospitals of the Community (established 2006) and is leading in terms of services. Today, the first Center for Patient Services ALS Spain opens its doors in a public day with the families and patients who want to appeal to government and society on the need for improved care and other necessities for sick of our country.

ELA Units allow different hospital specialists, neurologist, lung, digestólogo, therapist, physiotherapist, psychologist and social worker ill-treat the entire complexity of the disease, whose progression is especially marked by respiratory and digestive complications. But very few Autonomous Communities that have such units, so the associations are calling for an ALS response even to avoid discrimination between patients on a purely geographical.


Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is still a great unknown in clinical neurological no. Its early symptoms are easily confused with other more common illnesses, which makes its early diagnosis and treatment are delayed in most cases. Today there is no cure, and patients with ALS have only one prescription drug that modestly increases their life expectancy. Basic research and therapy of the disease progresses very slowly, so now ill with ALS can only resort to palliative treatment and symptom control.


ALS progression is variable and depends heavily on how each person is served or care the patient. The median patient survival does not exceed 3-4 years after their diagnosis, so that loss of mobility and symptoms are occurring at great speed. There are cases of less than one year of evolution and some more than ten years of evolution just as the scientist Stephen Hawking.


Since the Spanish Association of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ADELA) work to improve the quality of life of patients and families by offering those services today and the Public Health System and the recent law on guaranteeing Unit. Among the latest initiatives of national and regional associations ADELA include the "Guide for the Care of ALS in Spain" the first official document on the disease and their requirements backed by a large group of experts. The distribution of this guide in clinics, hospitals and health centers across the country is one of the recent commitments made by the Ministry of Health in the fight against this cruel disease.

While clinical research does not provide solutions - and very little is known about the disease and its evolution, palliative treatment and symptom control is the only option for those suffering from ALS. This explains the need to increase the ELA units in our hospitals, and improving as far as possible the social and medical assistance to patients and families, regardless of where they reside.

Born in Spain the first Research Group for pelvic floor dysfunction in women.

For the first time in Spain has created a research group for the study of pelvic floor dysfunction in women, GISPEM, which encompasses 37 specialized in pelvic floor throughout the country.

The group GISPEM (Pelvic Floor Research Group Women), sponsored by Astellas Pharma, analyze the results from the study VEHISP (Overactive bladder in women attending gynecologic consultation with pelvic floor problems), which has collected data on symptoms and voiding pelvic floor dysfunction in 500 patients. This will represent an important source of information that will be useful for clinical practice related gynecologic pelvic floor.

The results of the work group GISPEM, whose principal investigator is Dr. Montserrat Espuna, president of the Spanish Section of Pelvic Floor of the Spanish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SEGO), shall be reported in national and international congresses and published in scientific journals and help to enhance and disseminate existing knowledge about this disease. As explained from GISPEM, "the group was born thanks to the motivation and scientific interest of all its members to deepen the knowledge of the bladder and its relationship to other pelvic floor disorders.

The pelvic floor is a system of muscles and ligaments of the abdomen closed the floor to maintain proper position and suspend the bladder, uterus and rectum. The weakening of the pelvic floor causes problems in the functioning of any of these organs.


Astellas Pharma sponsored this project as part of its commitment to research and promotes the continuity of the Group GISPEM support the study of new targets that produce relevant data within this therapeutic area.

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia even comes with an average delay of twelve years.

- A widespread and permanent pain and a feeling of sadness and depression accompanied throughout his life to a million Spaniards.

- In extreme cases there are patients who have lived with the disease undiagnosed over half a century.

- Despite some doctors still deny the existence of this condition, there are 75 symptoms that make up.

- Yet it is recognized that disability from a disease that affects all spheres of life.

- A high percentage of people affected are young women between 30 and 50 years.

- A medicine without approval in Europe and even cognitive behavioral therapy improve symptoms of the disease, but half of those subject to a multidisciplinary treatment not responding to it.

It is known as one of the hidden disease of the twenty-first century, despite its influence on the quality of life. Not surprisingly, in Spain, suffering from fibromyalgia nearly 1,000,000 people, and although "there is no typical profile of the patient type," says Benigno as Casanueva, author of the first treatise on fibromyalgia that is published in Spain, rapporteur at the eleventh session of meetings with Health, "although a high percentage of people affected are young women between 30 and 50 years." Casanueva says that "75 percent of rheumatologists recognized not have specific training."



Fibromyalgia is considered the main cause of chronic widespread pain and affects approximately one to 2 percent of the population with a frequency of 4.2 per cent for women and 0.5 among men. Casanueva that 'fibromyalgia is the second most complex rheumatic disease, behind rheumatoid arthritis. Not surprisingly, are listed 75 different symptoms that make up the disease. " Its prevalence is such that Benigno Casanueva estimated that between four and six per cent of people attending primary care do so with pain caused by this disease, a percentage that rises to nearly twenty percent in the case of the rheumatology consultation. "



A permanent and widespread pain throughout the body, loss of strength and, in partnership, pictures of sadness and depression that accompany the patients suffer from a disease "on the cost of failure to achieve recognition, despite the reduction in dramatically the quality of life of patients. Chronic pain can affect facets personal, familial, social, occupational, emotional and physical of patients resulting in a substantial decline. The longer the duration of pain, the greater the likelihood of psychological disorders, behavioral or psychiatric become more important. "



The approach by some physicians maintained that fibromyalgia does not exist is one of the main reasons that this condition has become a focus of controversy. "It's unbelievable that there are still doctors who doubt the existence of this disease. However, "the specialist," there is a deep knowledge about the paradigm of chronic diffuse pain. Do not know the exact mechanisms of peripheral and central sensitization and lack of information leads to one of the main problems of this condition, the delay in diagnosis. "



It is not a trivial matter. Casanueva said that "the average delay in diagnosis is twelve years, although there are extreme cases like that of patients who have lived with the disease undiagnosed over half a century." At the time of diagnosis provide Casanueva suggests that "when a patient comes to a consultation with diffuse pain and not responding to treatment with the anti-primary care physician should suspect the existence of a box phlebology.



Rheumatology specialists have some other monitoring tools. "There are 18 points of the human body called myofascial, with greater sensitivity to pain and to diagnose the disease. To be considered a pattern of fibromyalgia must be answered in the form of pain, at least eleven of them.



What treatment responded more effectively to this problem? Benigno Casanueva presents some solutions, "all from the consideration that at least half of those affected do not respond to them. Thus, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pregabalin capsules CV for the management of Fibromyalgia, in July 2007 and, although the effectiveness of this medicine is contrasted in tables mild loses intensity as the disease worsens .



Casanueva recommends, however, a multidisciplinary treatment. Beyond providing pharmacological, cognitive behavioral therapies that help the patient to minimize the ravages of a disease that carries with it a stigma: the account of another that it's Chinese story. "

Certolizumab pegol shows a rapid and effective treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis both as monotherapy and in combination therapy.



• The FAST4WARD study shows that certolizumab pegol administered as monotherapy is the first anti-TNF-α subcutaneous showing actual clinical benefit at four weeks of treatment

• The RAPID 2 study shows a greater reduction of signs and symptoms and progression of rheumatoid arthritis

Two pivotal studies published online in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, show that certolizumab pegol, the only anti-TNF pegylated Fc region with the company UCB Pharma, is effective and well tolerated both as monotherapy and in combination with methotrexate (MTX) in adults with active rheumatoid arthritis.

The Study FAST4WARD
The Study FAST4WARD of six months' duration, achieved its primary and secondary objectives and demonstrated that certolizumab pegol administered subcutaneously in doses of 400mg every four weeks as monotherapy, significantly reduced the signs and symptoms and pain associated with arthritis arthritis. In addition, improved physical function compared with patients treated with placebo (sorbitol).

In the words of Professor Roy Fleischamm, Southwestern Medical Center at the University of Texas, Dallas "The positive results of the survey FAST4WARD are encouraging and demonstrate the potential of certolizumab pegol as a future treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis."

Also stressed, "While the RAPID studies have shown the benefits of rapid certolizumab pegol in combination therapy, this is the first Phase III clinical trial demonstrating its effectiveness in monotherapy. This may become important when patients need to discontinue conventional treatments, due to poor tolerability or because they have contraindications to these treatments. "

FAST4WARD: Main results of the clinical trial
Upon reaching the main goal, patients treated with certolizumab pegol showed rates significantly higher ACR20 response at week 24 versus those who were in the placebo group (p <0001:45,5% versus 9.3%). Response to treatment was rapid, with more than one third of patients (36.7%) treated with certolizumab pegol, and reaching ACR20 response at week 1 of treatment.

Patients treated with certolizumab pegol also experienced clinically significant improvement in physical function (HAQ-DI) from week 1 to week 24, relative to placebo (p <0.001). This is consistent with the significant reduction of levels of pain (VAS) and disease activity (DAS 28-3) (p <0001).

Certolizumab pegol was generally well tolerated with a low incidence of pain in the area of injection (n = <3 new casos/100 patient years) and discontinued due to adverse events. Most adverse events reported in both treatment groups were mild to moderate. The most common adverse events were headache, nasopharyngitis, infections of the upper airways, sinusitis and diarrhea. Adverse events were serious infections and cancer, which is consistent with the findings of other trials in the class of anti-TNF.

RAPID 2
The RAPID 2 study, conducted over six months, showed that treatment with certolizumab pegol, together with MTX, significantly improves the clinical signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and inhibits disease progression and improving physical function in adult patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.

According to principal investigator, Professor Josef Smol, Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, "this study is important to reaffirm the benefits of certolizumab pegol in reducing pain and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and the ability to prevent structural damage associated with early this debilitating condition. "

Similarly, Professor Smol stressed, "These findings are consistent with data from the RAPID 1 study extension presented last week at the Annual Scientific Congress of the American College of Rheumtaology. The results showed long-term benefits of certolizumab pegol providing symptom relief, improving productivity and quality of life and reducing fatigue.

RAPID 2: Main results of the clinical trial
In the RAPID 2 study, patients with severe disease treated with certolizumab pegol (200mg or 400 mg), together with MTX, ACR20 responses were significantly higher from week 1, compared with patients treated with placebo plus MTX (p <0 , 01). The results were maintained throughout the study.

Patients in both treatment groups had significant clinical improvements in physical function (HAQ-DI) from week 1, compared with group treated with placebo and MTX, the improvements in quality of life of patients were maintained through week 24 (0001). In addition, certolizumab pegol inhibited progression of structural joint damage, with minimal changes since the baseline in modified Total Sharp (MTSS) at week 24, compared with MTX alone (p <0001).

There were no statistically significant differences in the clinical efficacy of primary and secondary variables between treatment arms 400mg or 200 mg of certolizumab pegol.

Concurrent studies, RAPID 1 and RAPID 2, are the first clinical trials in Phase III, placebo-controlled trials, to demonstrate the efficacy and tolerability of certolizumab pegol in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, part of the clinical trials program involving more than 2,300 patients.

The group of safety data from both studies show that certolizumab pegol was, in general, well tolerated, with a low incidence of pain in the area of injection (n = <3 new casos/100 patient years) and discontinued due to adverse events. The most common adverse events were headache, nasopharyngitis, and infections of the upper respiratory tract (including tuberculosis) and tumors (including lymphoma).

The FDA accepted for processing the Biological License Application for certolizumab pegol for the treatment of adult patients with active rheumatoid arthritis in February 2008. UCB submitted the Request for Authorization to Trade the European Medicines Agency in June 2008, requesting approval of certolizumab pegol as a subcutaneous treatment for adults with rheumatoid arthritis, moderate to severe.


About FAST4WARD (Study O11)
The 24 weeks FAST4WARD study (Efficacy and Safety of cerTolizumab pegol - 4 Weekly dosage in rheumatoid arthritis) was designed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of certolizumab pegol 400mg monotherapy. The clinical trial phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 220 adults with active rheumatoid arthritis who had previously failed at least one of the disease modifying drugs (FAMEs). Patients were randomized to receive certolizumab pegol subcutaneous 400 mg every four weeks (n = 111) or placebo-sorbitol (n = 109). Patients were evaluated based on improvements in the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

FAST4WARD The study achieved its main objective, l ACR20 response rate at week 24, as well as its secondary targets including the rates of ACR50 and ACR70 response. The patients who received certolizumab pegol experienced statistically significant clinical improvements in all ACR components at week 24 compared with those who were in the placebo group (p <0.5).

About RAPID 2
The pivotal RAPID 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, involving 619 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis in adults. The study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous certolizumab pegol (200 and 400 mg), together with MTX every two weeks, compared with placebo plus MTX in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients were randomized to receive one of three treatment regimens: 246 patients received certolizumab pegol 400 mg at weeks 0, 2 and 4, then 200 mg of certolizumab pegol every two weeks, 246 patients received certolizumab pegol 400mg every two weeks; 127 patients received placebo every two weeks. Rapid 2 The study achieved its primary objective of ACR20 response at week 24, as well as secondary objectives: change from baseline in the MTSS and 50 and ACR 70 responses at week 24.

Significantly more patients in the certolizumab pegol groups of 200 and 400mg achieved ACR20 response compared with placebo (p <0.001) rates were 57.3%, 57.6% and 8.7% respectively. Certolizumab pegol (200 and 400 mg) also significantly inhibited radiographic progression, the mean changes from baseline at week 24 MTSS were 0.2 and -0.4, repectivamente, versus 1.2 with placebo (analysis of rank p <, 01). Patients treated with certolizumab pegol was swift and significant improvements in physical function versus those treated with placebo (p <0.001).

About UCB
UCB Pharma (www.ucb-group.com), based in Brussels, Belgium, is a leading biopharmaceutical company, global in nature, and devoted to research, development and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical products that focus on areas of the central nervous system and immunological diseases. With around 12,000 employees in over 40 countries, UCB Pharma achieved revenues of 3.6 billion euros in 2007. UCB Pharma is listed on Euronext Brussels (with the symbol: UCB).
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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

The health sector investment will be profitable!

Of Social Security Institution (SGK) "Health application papers" and the Ministry of Finance's "support for the treatment of application papers, many innovations in the field of health and open the door to change. Citizen's health issues
To resolve the force into the forefront of new applications by the SSK, Bağkur and affiliated to the Pension Fund of patients referred to the university and private hospitals to be able to apply without. But how much benefit to the citizens of the new application shall be in proportion to the state that will bring an additional cost. In the transition period will be surely exploited by some.

In many developed countries as examples of the application in Turkey for some time to sit and pass the envelope this time, our country-specific problems arise from the need to be resolved.
It seems that the health sector already in the face of this new application is divided into two. As well as opponents, would be useful for defense, too.

The new application, in health "kamuözel sector employees" will be eliminated discrimination. Thus, Turkey's public and private sector investments in the field of health all under one roof will be put on service. In other words, civil servants receive better service, statüsündekiler hospital workers in the queue will not be a victim. But as each new application to be ready to discuss some problems and, to cheer the old people will need to be lonely.

CONTROL AND AUDITING REQUIREMENTS increasing
This new application of the private health sector to be more under control and supervision seems inevitable. Otherwise, the state's social security deficit will grow, citizens can not get the desired quality of service, but an ugly human health, the new rich and there are tools to trade.

If the new application inspection and control mechanisms of the new citizen is created from this will be harmful. Health services will have to take more resources. In other words, both states in this area will come under more financial difficulty and trouble to the citizens in the solution of health problems. Winning is the only private health companies.

Implementation, SSK, Bağkur and affiliated to the Pension Fund of patients, referred to the university and private hospitals also provide non-contact.
However, this application will be in the application package price. Private hospitals düşenler way, even half a day for a small problem, with examinations, with analysis, will be forced to spend their movie. Because some private hospitals from the door as the customer is entered, the job kutsiyet aside, the fall in quarries can account how much money they can get.

Work without a referral university hospital size, there can be applied.
The concerns of the university hospital treatment and to prevent you in the direction of research. At this point, how the circuit can be an implementation stage, it should look. But the real problem in public hospitals to private hospitals could not get the difference. Go to a private hospital to give the ordinary rather than differences, in a university hospital will be treated like every Turkish citizen. Then the university hospital of the request to the other private hospitals will be provided direction to how? University, who will meet the cost of hospital? As you can see, there are serious problems of Turkey in the field of health. Easy way to apply, however, instead of criticizing the solution to all the innovation is required. New application is important, will be useful. But to resolve the missing, drug companies and private health institutions receive under control, to supervise, improper practices and to implement immediate deterrent sanction a system that does not require it to be did you?

To the center area of the integrated approach to patient care

In most countries health services are provided in part:

* In the primary care level, the patient is usually a specialist or general practitioner treatment kuruluşunundan is a health
* By the secondary care level, a specialist doctor to the patient, are usually sent to a hospital consultant
* The patient at home, third party maintenance level (or in a care home) usually work independently or by a nurse in the doctor's team will be treated

In this regard 'old type' big company departments andırır: every one is responsible for their own actions performed, using a unique data system and data integration between the process and is the bottom level.

Usually, a shared record of treatment and is not common. The medical records of doctors holding specialist will not be transferred to the secondary level (even in summary). Most areas of the basic process is still on paper and is written by hand. (For example, between primary and secondary care levels to tryst, prescription preparation, keeping records and clinical evaluation.)

The aim of health institutions (private or public organizations that matter) all integrated in the field of health quality in the patient, the patient care center by providing a high level of patient satisfaction, and to provide an efficient way is to take place. Therefore, the maintenance of an effective cooperation in the areas of health care professionals and must work in an integrated state. Health professionals to achieve this are to prevent:

Between process and system integration * is not
* Public access to patient data that does not.

Industry Solutions:

Separate department of understanding to be removed, integrated, patient-centered care and patient satisfaction is needed to improve standardization.

Health organizations should do the following:

* Some clinical and administrative work to the standards process
* An electronic patient record (EPR) (and / or electronic health record) system through the creation of appropriate data standards and shared patient data base to identify
* To protect patient data and secure, controlled access to provide the security and encryption standards to define
* Standard package solution based on a series of 'intensive infrastructure (technical infrastructure + based applications) to apply
* Clinical and administrative activities to support and disseminate them to all levels of a number of maintenance information systems to improve services or to receive application
* All maintenance levels for health care professionals an integrated health 'portal' to the center with the patient to develop an understanding

This area has many activities, but very little way. Accelerate the application and the speed should be increased gradually. Shared a specific treatment area of patient data can be decided and evaluated by a compound to create a patient record can be brought together. As options, to implement and to develop commercial EPR (Electronic Patient Record - Electronic Patient Record) versions are available. Primary, secondary and outpatient / home care in relation to the level of integrated care solution, and this can be started at the local level of consistent patient information to be used as needed.
Benefits:

* Advanced and more information between the ancient civilizations in patient care more efficient cooperation and health professionals better access to important information
* Maintenance of standards rise faster than the best practical and well-supported (Supporting information systems to be activated)
* Clinical and administrative data to evaluate more efficient to automatically generate the clinical data, maintenance and archiving, and performance measurement and the automatically generated reports.

Increasing administrative efficiency

Two factors determine the cost of health services are:

* People with long life expectancy and
* The development of medicine.

Health service provider in the basic function (patient treatment) services for the management of critical resources to concentrate on optimizing the presentation and should be.

This basic process for the modern improvements, and automatic improvements are needed. Saving of hospital appointments, for example, regulation of prescription and medical equipment supply management.

Appointment of recording and editing process prescribed standard at the national level and opportunities across the country are open solutions be applied rapidly.

Industry analysts, işakışı software and online forms will be provided through the use of process automation based on the global level are estimated to provide savings of billions of dollars.
Industry Solutions:

Health organizations to achieve increased efficiency, you need to do is:

* Primary and secondary health professionals (doctors and hospital consultants) to provide access across the country to establish an online connection system. This solution, which provides online access to their hospital consultant and clinical agenda as ekstranetleri lead to local solutions.
* Electronic (paperless) merkeziTüm prescription editing solutions (appointments and prescription services) in health institutions and to those who pay an application service provider (ASP) can be given through.

Benefits:

* Cost reduction
Lower administrative costs in the health sector, health institutions and to pay administrative operations will be reduced. (Industry experts worldwide that can provide savings on the billions of dollars they say.)
* Productivity growth in:
Important staff for core business will remain free.
* Administrative Efficiency:
Better-quality, real-time information, such as fizisyen and doctors will receive an appointment request online and communication difficulties will decrease, the patient will receive immediate confirmation of the appointment request. (Satisfaction level will increase).
* Cost reduction:
Costs will fall with decreasing prescription fraud

Continuous professional development of health

Health industry professionals in the clinical information, procedures and experience of research related to current development and to provide continuous awareness of the management of health institutions to face the challenging task is.

Active role in selecting the treatment and want to dialogue with your doctor informed the patient to increase to the more difficult it makes the task.

And Goldman Sachs in 1999, a report yayınladıkları Medica Planet by the end of 2001 the percentage of Internet users, 30 percent of Europeans to receive health information and to use the web until the year 2005 the percentage of this number is expected to explain 55'e had quit.

Professional development of clinical information in a simple way to express what is more to running: evolving patient - physician relationships from all levels to better evaluate the employee's re-training is required.
Industry Solutions:

Continuing Health Professional Development of an active, continuous updating of information for doctors and nurses are trained to maintain and is very important in terms. Learning to support the other formats, or from any place at any time in the course to be more use of the internet is also important. E-Learning an effective complement to traditional classroom teaching will be the doctors and nurses will offer some new services:

* Online registration and management procedures
* Online Exam
* Online course assessment and certification
* Online training support
* At a time and distance depends on the desired access to education without
* Complex, real-time by special procedures and practices to be observed in multiple environments

To establish a connection to share information with doctors and NHS Direct in England or France, such as RSS in a network spread across the country will need to be used. Within the boundaries of the European Union, the service provider is running, secure virtual private network operating in over 11 national health network, are available. Proliferation of telecom companies, and Web-MD Skolar applications such as virtual classroom and educational services such as TV and sağlamaktadır.IP-learning applications to start new switching infrastructure with high bandwidth is required.
Benefits:

* Health professionals access to the system of common standards through the consistent care provided through increasing the quality of patient care
* Doctors and other health team members to increase their satisfaction (Workforce Optimization), potential new revenue
* Scalability: The number of courses the students can be increased greatly
* Flexibility: a specific time and place to stay connected to the access to the learning environment.
* Drug use reduction, and thus save the cost of providing hospital and the employer

Health Sector

Applications on the Internet has led to significant changes in the health industry. This flow of information from the applications of individuals and organizations interact with everything from format is redefine business processes and improve patient care quality is everything. Internet applications, simplifies management, the patient to the Central Area is developing the Integrated Maintenance Concept, health workers' knowledge increases, services provided and Continuous Professional Development is strengthening and the patient more options and more information are equipped with access facilities.

Traditional business processes and patient care in a medical institution that is used in web applications to an e-business transformation of the existing business model should be re-evaluated. This connection and more to provide flexibility to respond to changes more quickly covers. When the health effects of the problem is not the Internet industry, streamline business processes and innovation to bring health services to improve the experience of simplifying technology and how to take advantage of the internet will use.