Several candidates for the Republican presidential nomination gathered on Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa, to discuss their views on abortion rights and other issues, the New York Times reports. Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee defined themselves as “lifelong opponents of abortion rights, drawing clear, if unspoken, contrasts with” former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who supports abortion rights, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who previously supported abortion rights but now opposes them, according to the Times. “I’m not late in declaring that life begins at conception and we ought to protect human life,” Huckabee said (Nagourney, New York Times, 4/15). McCain, who spoke last, said that he has supported “the rights of the unborn” for 24 years “without changing, without wavering,” the Los Angeles Times reports (Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 4/15). After the event, McCain was asked what he would do in regards to abortion as president, and he said he “would try to help change the culture in America” (Baker, Washington Post, 4/15). Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.), who entered the campaign event with supporters chanting “pro-life is whole life,” said, “We need a culture that does not corrode and does not corrupt.” Romney said what “makes America strong” is “the American people — hard working, risk-taking, opportunity-seeking, God-loving, family oriented, patriotic American people who respect the sanctity of human life” (Los Angeles Times, 4/15).

Clinton Criticizes Bush Administration on Plan B, Stem Cell Research
In related news, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), who is running for the Democratic nomination for president, in a speech in New Hampshire said the Bush administration “has tried to turn Washington, [D.C.], into an evidence-free zone, whether it’s on stem cell research or [Barr Laboratories' emergency contraceptive] Plan B … or pollution or global warming or the safety of our food or the quality of our air.” Clinton said the administration’s record is evidence for the need to reinstitute the Office of Technology Assessment, which was created in the 1970s to evaluate government and advise Congress on new technologies, the New York Times reports. Congressional Republicans abolished the office in 1995, according to the Times (Confessore, New York Times, 4/14).

“Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

Smoking has been found to contribute to poorer outcomes for people treated for many kinds of cancer and now, researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have associated smoking and acute side-effects following radiation therapy for prostate cancer. The study was presented on 5-Nov-2006 at the 48th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in Philadelphia.

Smoking is associated with an increased risk of radiation-related side effects in cancers of the head and neck, cervix, lung and breast. For this study, researchers analyzed the impact of smoking on gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) side effects for 1,194 patients with prostate cancer treated at Fox Chase Cancer Center with 3D conformal radiation therapy between 1991 and 2001. Smoking information collected prior to treatment included status as a current smoker, ex-smoker or non-smoker. Patients treated with androgen deprivation prior to or during treatment were excluded.

“Our patients who smoked during treatment reported having more acute gastrointestinal side-effects such as diarrhea,” said Niraj Pahlajani, M.D., lead author on the study and a resident in the radiation oncology department at Fox Chase.

“Fortunately, smoking didn’t appear to impact long-term GI side effects or genitourinary side-effects. These results underscore the importance of smoking cessation prior to radiation therapy.”

###

Contact: Karen Mallet

Fox Chase Cancer Center

The crunch of helmets as players tangle for a loose football, the swoosh of the net as an outside jumper is made and the crack of the bat as a guaranteed double sails into right center field are awesome sounds to sports fans but for dentists, they’re reminders that a player is just one misstep away from a dental injury.

“Basketball and baseball are the two biggest mouth-injuring sports,” says Stephen Mitchell, D.M.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Pediatric Dentistry. “And the most common injuries we see are broken, displaced or knocked out teeth, and broken jaws.”

According to a report by the U.S. Surgeon General, craniofacial injuries sustained during sporting activities are a major source of nonfatal injury and disability in children and adults, accounting for up to one-third of all sports injuries. The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation estimates that more than 3 million teeth will be knocked out in youth sporting activities this year.

The increasing participation of girls and young women in competitive sports means that they, just like their male counterparts, should know the risks of dental injuries and use additional protective gear as appropriate, Mitchell says.

Mitchell says mouth guards and helmets with face protectors are the best way for kids to avoid dental injuries while playing sports.

“If the child has a full set of permanent teeth then a custom guard can be made that will provide protection but be small enough to make it easy to communicate with teammates,” Mitchell says. “But if they still have some of their baby teeth, a custom guard is a waste of money. Parents will be better off going to the store and buying one of the guards that can be boiled and molded to their child’s mouth.”

So what should you do if despite your best preventive efforts your child still hurts his or her teeth or jaw?

If a tooth is broken or cracked, see a dentist within 24 hours, Mitchell says. If a tooth or teeth have been displaced or knocked out, Mitchell says, take the child immediately to the emergency room and to try to preserve the tooth.

“A tooth that has been knocked out needs to be back in the mouth within 30 minutes for the best chance of long-term survival,” Mitchell says. He offers these tips for preserving the tooth, which can even help past the ideal 30-minute window:

– Avoid touching the root because it can be damaged easily.

– If the tooth is dirty, hold it by the upper part and rinse it off with milk until most of the dirt is washed away. If you don’t have milk, don’t clean it. Wiping it off may cause more damage.

– If your child is old enough not to swallow it, try to gently put the tooth back in its socket for the best chance of preservation.

– If you can’t get it back in the socket, put it in a cup of milk and head for the dentist or emergency room.

“We tell people to put the tooth in milk because the cells around the root are still alive after it is knocked out and milk can provide nutrients to the cells to help keep them alive,” Mitchell adds. “Do not put the tooth in water. It can cause the cells to burst and makes saving the tooth much less likely.”

Jaw injuries may be much less obvious than a broken or knocked-out tooth but they are no less serious, Mitchell says. If a child falls hard enough to cut their chin, or takes an especially hard hit, it could easily cause breaks in the jaw. In an injury such as this, a child should be seen by a doctor within 24 hours.

No matter the injury, Mitchell says caring properly for the mouth afterward is key to successful healing.

“Following an injury a child’s mouth will be sore and they will want to do everything they can to make it not hurt. But, continuing to brush their teeth and practice good oral hygiene is extremely important,” he says. “It is the same as keeping any other wound clean, the cleaner the mouth is kept, the better it heals.”

Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham

A June 24, 2008, order by a Federal Magistrate Judge in NATA’s Fair Practice Lawsuit requires the Orthopaedic Section, APTA Inc. to turn over to NATA, among other things, documents regarding the November 2007 letters it intended to harm the manual therapy symposium put on by NATA in January 2008. The Magistrate Judge rejected the Orthopaedic Section’s efforts to resist providing these documents.

The Orthopaedic Section was ordered to produce the documents to NATA within 10 days. It is unknown whether the Orthopaedic Section will appeal the court’s ruling. Any appeal would be to the Federal District Judge before whom the Fair Practice Lawsuit is pending.

For more information on the NATA Fair Practice Lawsuit, go here.

About the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)

Athletic trainers are unique health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association represents and supports 30,000 members of the athletic training profession. NATA advocates for equal access to athletic trainers for patients and clients of all ages and supports H.R. 1846. Only 42 percent of high schools have access to athletic trainers. NATA members adhere to a code of ethics.

National Athletic Trainers’ Association

Treating victims of a stroke can be a daunting task. However, new studies show that by additionally treating atrial fibrillation (AF) post-stroke may stave off vascular dementia in upcoming years.

Research into nearly 50,000 patients’ records found that AF after a stroke more than doubles the risk of dementia, and doctors say they should now investigate whether more vigorous treatment with drugs to control AF might delay or even prevent dementia.

Atrial fibrillation is a disorder found in about 2.2 million Americans. During atrial fibrillation, the heart’s two small upper chambers (the atria) quiver instead of beating effectively. Blood isn’t pumped completely out of them, so it may pool and clot. If a piece of a blood clot in the atria leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke results. About 15 percent of strokes occur in people with atrial fibrillation.

The likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation increases with age. Three to five percent of people over 65 have atrial fibrillation and it is the most common heart rhythm disturbance and affects up to 500,000 people in the United Kingdom as well.

Experts at the University of East Anglia in the UK believe tighter management of AF might also offer some protection against dementia. They looked at research where people with and without AF were followed up to see how many went on to develop dementia.

By analyzing 15 separate studies they found that stroke survivors with AF were 2.4 times more likely to develop dementia than stroke survivors who did not have the heart condition. About a quarter of patients with stroke and atrial fibrillation were found to have developed dementia during follow-up.

Lead researcher Dr. Phyo Kyaw said:

“These results may help us identify potential treatments that could help delay or even prevent the onset of dementia. Options could include more rigorous management of cardiovascular risk factors or of AF, particularly in stroke patients.”

Most types of dementia are nonreversible (degenerative). Nonreversible means the changes in the brain that are causing the dementia cannot be stopped or turned back. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Dementia also can be due to many small strokes. This is called vascular dementia.

To be healthy and function properly, the brain cells need a good supply of blood. The blood is delivered through a network of blood vessels called the vascular system. If the vascular system within the brain becomes damaged and blood cannot reach the brain cells, the cells will eventually die. This can lead to the onset of vascular dementia.

There are a number of conditions that can cause or increase damage to the vascular system. These include high blood pressure, heart problems, high cholesterol and diabetes. This means it is important that these conditions are identified and treated at the earliest opportunity.

Vascular dementia affects different people in different ways and the speed of the progression varies from person to person. Some symptoms may be similar to those of other types of dementia.

Rebecca Wood of Alzheimer’s Research UK concludes:

“While this paper shows there is a link between atrial fibrillation and dementia, we don’t yet know if treating atrial fibrillation will prevent or delay the onset of dementia. More research will give us the answers we urgently need.”

Source: The American Academy of Neurology

Sy Kraft, B.A.

BDI Pharma, Inc. (BDI), the nation’s preeminent distributor of specialty biopharmaceuticals, announced today the unveiling of SecuriFLU, a new online supply solution where customers may pre-book orders for the upcoming flu season, as well as place orders for this year’s current strain. The website also serves to provide education on the impending influenza season along with CDC recommendations and updates on the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus.

“SecuriFLU provides a simple, convenient supply solution to a healthcare entity’s immediate influenza response needs, as well as accommodates advanced planning for next season’s vaccination clinics,” said Jennifer Jacobson, Vice-President of Corporate Programs for BDI. “By providing our customers with multiple manufacturers’ brands, SecuriFLU and BDI Pharma offer the type of variety necessary to meet the unique requirements of the diverse segments of the U.S. patient population.”

About BDI Pharma, Inc.

Serving the healthcare community since 1995, BDI Pharma, Inc. has built an outstanding reputation as an industry source for products and service. BDI Pharma’s market focus is evident in its commitment to specialty biotherapeutics, chemotherapies, immunologics and hemostatics, including Albumin (Human) USP, intravenous immune globulin (IVIG or IGIV), coagulation factors VIII, IX, and VIIa, as well as hyper-immunes, injectables and physician specialty pharmaceuticals. As a recognized Authorized Distributor of Record for the products it supplies nationwide, BDI Pharma, Inc. services the entire country and is fully accredited and insured, fulfilling the licensing requirements in all 50 states.

In an arena where access to pertinent clinical data and updated information on market availability is paramount to patient care, BDI Pharma, Inc. defines its customer-centric approach to serving the nation’s healthcare community through innovative inventory management programs, unparalleled customer service, extensive product knowledge, unique promotional services, emergency availability and urgent need delivery. The company serves as a source for reference material and market data, offering healthcare providers the latest information on products, supply and other industry events. BDI Pharma, Inc.’s educational literature and website — bdipharma — serve as open-access resources, contributing to the promotion of the biopharmaceutical industry and the education of both the healthcare community and general populace.

Source
BDI Pharma, Inc.

The UK charity, the Mental Health Foundation, has published its Sleep Matters report on the impact of sleep on health and wellbeing, marking the launch of a major new campaign to raise awareness of the importance of sleep for the mental and physical health of the nation.

Over 30% of the population currently suffers from insomnia or another sleep disorder. Reviewing the latest research on the issue, Sleep Matters details how, far from being a minor irritation, sleep disorders put sufferers at significantly greater risk of health problems ranging from depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder to immune deficiency and heart disease.

New data included in the report also reveal the sheer extent to which sleep disorders like insomnia affect everyday issues such as relationships and work. Taken from the ground-breaking The Great British Sleep Survey*, the largest ever survey of the nation’s sleep, these data show that, compared to people who sleep well, people with insomnia† are:

- Four times as likely to have relationship problems (reported amongst 55% of survey respondents with mild, moderate or severe insomnia, compared to 13% of respondents who slept well)

- Three times as likely to experience low mood (83% compared to 27%)

- Three times as likely to lack concentration during the day (78% compared to 26%)

- Three times as likely to struggle to ‘get things done’ at work or elsewhere in their lives (68% compared to 23%)

- Over twice as likely to suffer from energy deficiency (94% compared to 42%)

Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said:

“Whilst great emphasis is rightly placed on the importance of diet and exercise, sleep has for too long been neglected as a major influence on the physical and mental health of the nation. Up to a third of the population currently suffers from insomnia, and with stress and longer working hours on the rise in the current economic climate, it is crucial that we now treat the issue of sleep problems as the major public health concern it is”.

Professor Colin Espie, Director of the Glasgow University Sleep Centre, said of the survey results:

“The Great British Sleep Survey data show the extent to which sleep disorders can inhibit the very essence of who we are: our relationships, our mood, our ability to complete day-to-day tasks. These factors in turn have an impact on our health – sustained periods of low mood, relationship difficulties and lack of exercise due to low energy levels, for example, are all notable causes of mental health problems such as depression. They also affect our wider society – the diminished concentration levels and ability to complete tasks revealed by the survey, combined with the health consequences, also affect our productivity at work or in education. We can no longer just ignore the impact of sleep problems in this country. They are affecting our health, our economy, and our everyday happiness”.

Dr Dan Robotham, Senior Researcher at the Mental Health Foundation and lead author of Sleep Matters said:

“Poor sleep can lead to mental health problems, and mental health problems can lead to poor sleep. As a result, those who start experiencing insomnia can soon find themselves in a downward spiral of sleeplessness and ill-health, from which some never fully recover. It is therefore crucial that people are aware of the effective ways of breaking that spiral by improving the quality of their sleep. Employers, schools and public health bodies also need to know how they can identify and support people suffering from sleep disorders”.

Report recommendations

In order to tackle the impact sleep problems are having on the health and wellbeing of the UK, the Mental Health Foundation has made the following recommendations:

- Local and national public health campaigns should be organised for schools, workplaces and other public arenas, to highlight the importance of sleep and advise on evidence-based good sleep practice and therapies (as detailed in the report)

- GPs should be provided with up-to-date information and training about the importance of sleep and evidence-based sleep therapies

- The government’s new Public Health Outcomes Framework should include specific outcomes on reducing sleep problems

- NICE should develop guidance on the management of insomnia using evidence-based non-pharmaceutical therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) (the best proven therapy for persistent insomnia)

- People with sleep problems should be recognised in the government’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme, especially regarding access to CBT

- Further research into low cost CBT-based interventions for sleep problems, such as self-help books and online courses, should be carried out

Mental Health Foundation support for better sleep

To help the UK achieve better sleep, the Mental Health Foundation has produced Sleep Well, a pocket guide to achieving better sleep. The Foundation has also set-up a brand new website, where people can access advice and information about sleep. Free support materials, such as the Sleep Well pocket guide, a download-and-print sleep diary, an MP3 on relaxation techniques, and the full Sleep Matters report, can be accessed for free from the website. Further information on further campaign activities will be posted on the site throughout the year.

Notes

Breakdown of the Great British Sleep Survey data

Number of people surveyed:

- Total: 5,328

- Male: 1,376 (26%)

- Female: 3,952 (74%)

Age of respondents

- 16 – 30: 2,008 (38%)

- 31 – 45: 1,779 (33%)

- 46 – 60: 1,221 (23%)

- Over 60: 320 (6%)

Prevalence of insomnias amongst respondents

- Good sleepers (no sleep problems of any kind): 2,103 (39%)

- No insomnia, but may have other sleep-related problems: 1,260 (24%)

- Insomnia: 1,965 (37%)

Daytime impact areas of sleep

Area – Good sleepers – Insomnia

Low mood – 561 (27%) – 1,633 (83%)

Low energy – 888 (42%) – 1,841 (94%)

Relationship difficulties – 279 (13%) – 1,088 (55%)

Problems staying awake – 251 (12%) – 898 (46%)

Poor concentration – 555 (26%) – 1,537 (78%)

Decreased ability to get things done – 475 (23%) – 1,331 (68%)

*About the Great British Sleep Survey

The Great British Sleep Survey (GBSS) is an online survey designed by Professor Colin Espie, Director of the Sleep Centre at the University of Glasgow, Chair of the World Sleep Federation task force on Insomnia, and Co-Founder of Sleepio, a new organisation dedicated to helping people sleep better.

† Insomnia

For the purpose of the GBSS analysis, insomnia is defined as sleep disturbance for at least three nights a week to the extent that it causes a degree of day-time distress.

Source.

Mental Health Foundation

Physical exercise is one of the most effective methods of preventing disease. The current issue of Deutsches Arzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2009; 106[40]: 713 – 27) is devoted to this important topic.

The first article, by Carl D. Reimers and coauthors, deals with the remarkable potential of physical exercise to prevent stroke. In men, exercise lowers the risk of cerebral hemorrhage by 40%, and that of cerebral infarction by 27%. Rapid walking or cycling suffices to achieve this effect. In women, a statistically significant effect has not been demonstrated.

In the second article , sports physician Martin Halle and his collaborators present the finding that regular walking lowers the risk of colorectal carcinoma, the most common type of cancer in Germany, by 40%. Patients with colorectal carcinoma can also improve their prognosis by exercising.

Professor Leyk of the German Sport University in Cologne opens this special issue with an editorial, in which he asks the critical question why the tremendous preventive and therapeutic benefits of exercise are still underutilized in clinical medicine.

Source: Deutsches Aerzteblatt International

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) applauded U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and John Thune (R-SD) for introducing a Senate bill, the Veterinary Services Investment Act (VSIA), which will confront critical veterinary service shortages.

VSIA would establish a new grant program to assist states in addressing their unique veterinary workforce needs. Grants awarded under the program could be used for activities such as recruiting veterinarians to work in underserved areas, bolstering food safety and conducting surveillance of animal disease.

Broad, bipartisan support for VSIA has grown substantially since a companion bill, H.R. 3519, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in July. Since its introduction, 28 representatives have signed on as co-sponsors for the bill.

Support for the legislation among stakeholder groups also remains extraordinarily high. At present, 89 veterinary and agricultural groups have joined the AVMA’s letter endorsing the VSIA.

In the Senate today, 18 senators committed to co-sponsoring the bill as introduced by Stabenow and Thune. Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), John Barasso (R-WY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Bernard Sanders (I-VT) and John Tester (D-MT) have all signed on to support VSIA.

“Senators Stabenow and Thune and their colleagues are voicing support for maintaining public health, food safety and animal health by bolstering the veterinary workforce,” said Dr. Ron DeHaven, AVMA Chief Executive Officer. “The Veterinary Services Investment Act will significantly help bring much needed veterinarian services to areas of our country in need.”

“Too many rural communities lack adequate veterinary services that are important to our agricultural industry in Michigan,” said Stabenow. “This legislation will address this shortage in veterinarian care, create good-paying jobs, and invest in food safety.”

“Many people in rural states like South Dakota depend on healthy animals for their livelihood,” said Thune. “This legislation will help draw and retain veterinarians in rural areas, increase the availability of veterinary education, and help veterinarians use technology to expand the reach of their practices.”

Under the VSIA, veterinary clinics in rural areas and state, national, allied or regional veterinary organizations, specialty boards or veterinary medical association would be eligible to apply for grants. Veterinary colleges, university research and veterinary medical foundations, departments of veterinary science and comparative medicine, state agricultural experiment stations, and state, local and tribal government agencies would also be eligible to apply for grants.

Source
American Veterinary Medical Association

Screening for mutations in a gene that helps the body metabolize a kidney transplant anti-rejection drug may predict which children are at higher risk for side effects, including compromised white blood cell count or organ rejection, according to new research.

Published online Feb. 18 by the Nature journal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, the study suggests this genetic approach could also help physicians tailor personalized anti-rejection drug doses to prevent adverse reactions, said senior investigators Alexander A. Vinks, Pharm.D., Ph.D., and Jens Goebel M.D., of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

“There are better ways than just giving standard doses of these drugs, and in due course these types of technologies will be available worldwide to help patients,” said Dr. Vinks, director of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and the Pediatric Pharmacology Research Unit at Cincinnati Children’s. “This pilot study shows personalized and prospective MMF dosing and monitoring may be feasible to reduce the high incidence of drug toxicity in children without compromising the drug’s protective effects against kidney graft rejection.”

MMF, or Mycophenolate Mofetil, is an immunosuppressive agent commonly used to prevent rejection in organ transplants, particularly in kidney transplants. After taken orally, the drug is quickly processed by the body into active form. During this time, patients with a specific point mutation in the gene that helps break down the drug, UGT, metabolize the drug slower. This point mutation, called UGT1A9-331, causes overexposure and adverse side effects in the affected children, the study concluded. UGT encodes the drug’s main metabolizing enzyme in the body, uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase.

Adverse side effects most commonly linked to MMF have included gastrointestinal complications (such as diarrhea) or leukopenia – a drop in white blood cell count that can put patients at higher risk for infections. In some instances, patients have to be taken off the drug or have their dosage reduced to the point where they risk rejection of the new organ.

The current study analyzed 38 children who had received kidney transplants. Sixteen of the children experienced adverse side effects from MMF therapy. In the adverse reaction group, nine children with the specific UGT point mutation developed leukopenia. The researchers found no strong association between UGT gene variants and diarrhea – the most common side effect linked to MMF – suggesting gastrointestinal reactions to the drug may be caused by other factors.

Some previous studies have linked UGT gene mutations and MMF-related side effects in kidney transplant recipients, while others have suggested a greater risk for adverse events in children. A review of earlier research combined with their current data led researchers in this study to conclude that pediatric kidney transplant recipients on MMF therapy have a significantly higher likelihood of drug-related complications than adult patients. One previous study compared 22 pediatric and 37 adult transplant recipients, all who started with the standard recommended doses of MMF. Among the children, 54.5 percent experienced adverse side effects compared to 21.6 percent of the adults.

Besides the UGT1A9-331 point mutation, other studies have also linked a second variation, called UGT2B7-900, to possible MMF overexposure and development of leukopenia, said Tsuyoshi Fukuda, Ph.D., co-author on the current study and a colleague in Dr. Vinks’ division at Cincinnati Children’s. The research team recently completed pharmacokinetic and biomarker studies – which analyze how the body metabolizes a drug – to solidify the connection between different variants of UGT and MMF overexposure in pediatric kidney transplant patients.

Researchers want to use data from these pharmacokinetic studies as a basis for showing whether increased MMF exposure in adults can also be linked to specific variations in the UGT gene, according to Dr. Fukuda.

The pilot study is part of the growing field of genetic-based pharmacology, or pharmacogenetics. Combining biology and information technology, researchers are developing computer-based algorithms that allow taking a few drops of blood and analyzing how quickly a person’s body will break down and absorb a drug based on their genetic makeup. The goal is to reduce drug-related side affects by optimizing drug doses for individual patients.

Dr. Goebel is medical director of Kidney Transplantation Program in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Cincinnati Children’s. Also participating in this study were the divisions of Human Genetics and Biostatistics/Epidemiology at Cincinnati Children’s, the National Institutes of Health’s Pediatric Pharmacology Research Unit network, the Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, Ark.

Funding support came from the National Institutes of Health and a translational research initiative grant from Cincinnati Children’s.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is one of America’s top three children’s hospitals for general pediatrics and is highly ranked for its expertise in digestive diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, neonatal care, heart care and neurosurgery, according to the annual ranking of best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. One of the three largest children’s hospitals in the U.S., Cincinnati Children’s is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and is one of the top two recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health. For its achievements in transforming healthcare, Cincinnati Children’s is one of six U.S. hospitals since 2002 to be awarded the American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize(R) for leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care. The hospital is a national and international referral center for complex cases, so that children with the most difficult-to-treat diseases and conditions receive the most advanced care leading to better outcomes. Additional information can be found at cincinnatichildrens.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
cincinnatichildrens