From "Lupus News" Spring 2003 Vol. 23 Number 1
Coral calcium nothing more than common limestone
Don't be fooled: The dietary calcium supplement known as "coral calcium" is said to be derived from "remnants of living coral that have fallen from coral reefs, as a result of wave action or other natural processes." It is also said to be mined from the old ocean beds at the base of the coral reefs in Okinawa, Japan. But, simply put, "coral remnants," is only common limestone, which coral organisms originally manufacture as a protected by law, "coral calcium" is actually made by grinding up limestone that no longer contains live organisms. Limestone has no unique health properties. It is merely calcium carbonate, with some magnesium and trace amounts of many other minerals. Limestone fertilizer, available at garden centers, costs as little as a dollar for an 80 pound bag. For people who need to consume extra calcium, purified calcium carbonate pills are safer and far less expensive than 'coral calcium." ( Quackwatch website, 12 February 2003 )
Kava-containing products associated with liver-related injuries
The FDA Center for food Safety and Applied Nutrition ( CFSAN ) has notified healthcare professionals and consumers of the potential risk of severe liver injury associated with the use of kava-containing dietary supplements. Supplements containing the herbal ingredient kava are promoted for relaxation ( eg. to relieve stress, anxiety and tension ), sleeplessness, menopausal symptoms and other uses. Kava-containing products have been associated with liver-related injuries, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. Given these reports, persons who have liver disease or liver problems, or persons who are taking drug products that can affect the liver, should consult a physician before using kava-containing supplements ( Online notice from MedWatch : the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program - visit their website )
Be wary of products that claim to "cure" lupus
One of the claims circulating today is about a product called Mirac, advertised as "the only science-driven vitamin available for lupus sufferers". Some ads state that it cures the disease, others say that it is "scientifically tested and proven to stop the production of cells that cause lupus".
Last December the manufacturers wanted to place an advertisement for this product in Lupus News. After reviewing the information provided by the manufacturer, the LFA Medical Council denied the request, citing insufficient support for the clam that the product can help with lupus, its symptoms or its mechanisms of action.
Report focuses on disparities in medical understanding
Racial and ethnic differences account for large variations in access to and confidence about health care, according to a new study of 6,722 American adults. The study carried out for the Commonwealth Fund, which supports health research; found that 16 percent of Caucasians who visited a physician in the past two years said they did not fully understand what the doctor told them. However, similar complaints were made by 23 percent of African Americans, 27 percent of Asian Americans, and a third of Hispanics.
The report suggests at least one reason for the higher discontent in these groups. While 82 percent of whites have a doctor who is white, only 23 percent of blacks have a black doctor. Only 26 percent of Hispanics see a Hispanic physician and only 39 percent of Asian Americans have a doctor of the same racial group.
The survey also indicated that, while about 80 percent of white and African Americans said they found it easy to read instructions on a prescription bottle, only 66 percent of Asian Americans and 64 percent of Hispanics felt the same way
Elusys drug ETI-I04 shown to reduce the frequency and severity of lupus kidney flares
Promising results in studies of a new drug developed by Elusys Therapeutics Inc. for treatment of systemic lupus Erythematosus show that ETI-I04 is safe in people with lupus and that the binding of the drug to red blood cells could be confirmed, which demonstrates that the drug functions in humans as expected.
The Elusys Heteropolymer ( HP ) is a monoclonal antibody-based technology designed to enable the body to use its own red blood cells to efficiently remove and destroy a wide variety of blood-borne pathogens, toxins, and autoantibodies. The HP consists of two monoclonal antibodies that are chemically joined together like "biological double-sided tape." One monoclonal antibody sticks to the target to be removed; the other binds to a receptor found on the red blood cells of all primates. Once the target is bound, the red blood cells carry the pathogen to the liver where it is destroyed. Heteropolymers can be engineered to be active against anything that circulates in the blood stream.
The Elusys HP is modified slightly for autoimmune diseases: instead of two monoclonal antibodies that are chemically attached, one monoclonal antibody is linked to an antigen that targets pathogenic autoantibodies. The Antigen-Heteropolymer ( AHP ) binds the autoantibodies to red blood cells for removal and destruction in the liver.
Preclinical studies have show that AHP's can remove from the blood antibodies similar to those produced in people with SLE. The AHP agent under study, ETI-I04, is a monoclonal antibody to a receptor on the red blood cell cross-linked to double-stranded DNA (the antigen). Experiments demonstrated that the HP technology can clear even substantial levels of a variety of pathogens and autoantibodies from the bloodstream within an hour.
The company feels that its Heteropolymer technology may help to reduce the frequency and severity of the kidney flares that lead to the kidney damage or failure seen in people with lupus.
Elusys is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Elusys patented monoclonal antibody-based technology, the Heteropolymer System, may offer a significant advance in the management and treatment of blood-borne viruses, bacteria, toxins and autoantibodies by enhancing the effectiveness of the body's own natural defence mechanisms to remove such pathogens from the blood and destroy them. Additional information appears in the Elusys website.
New twist on common chemical could treat lupus
Scientists have discovered that a chemical similar to those found in anti-anxiety drugs, such as Valium and Xanax, could reduce significantly the kidney inflammation caused by the autoimmune disorder lupus, according to a study released in October. Because scientists still do not know the cause of lupus, tracking down and effective treatment has proved difficult.
Researchers led by Dr Gary Glick of the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute in Ann Arbor have found a new twist on a common chemical may provide lupus patients with relief. As reported in the October 16 issue of Journal of Clinical Investigation they used a compound called 1.4 bezodiazepine or Bz-423, which shares a similar chemical structure pattern to the compounds found in anti-anxiety medications. To test this chemical researchers gave it to mice with lupus and compared them to diseased mice who did not receive the treatment. Results showed 60 percent of the untreated mice developed lupus-related kidney inflammation compared to 16 percent of the treated animals. The treated mice also showed none of the side effects caused by current standard lupus drugs, which tend to kill healthy cells, as well as diseased cells and actually cause patients to feel worse, much like some cancer medications.
However, Bz-423 is much more selective, and the researchers feel this approach has a lot of promise for lupus, because the molecular target - how this drug works in the cell - is completely new. Kidney inflammation, which can be fatal, is caused when the body's immune system attacks its own organs and tissues. The kidneys are often a prime target among lupus patients. The researches suspect that Bz-423 would be a good drug to study because it triggers apoptosis, a natural cellular suicide that does not harm surrounding healthy cells.
Accordingly to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention in Atlanta, 1.4 million Americans have lupus and more than 22,000 have died from the disease over the past two decades. Women of childbearing age are at greatest risk and African Americans are more likely that Caucasians to develop the disorder, which has no known cause.
B-cell depletion may be helpful in lupus
B-cell depletion may be a viable treatment strategy in system lupus erythematosus ( SLE ) according to the results of a small open-label study in the October 2002 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Study subjects were six, women fulfilling at least four of the current American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE and ranging in age from 17 to 40 years. Treatment given over a two-week period consisted of two 750 mg infusions of cyclophosphamide high-dose oral prednisolone, and two 500 mg infusions of rituximah, a B-cell targeted monoclonal antibody proven highly effective against B-cell lymphomas.
One patient did not improve after treatment and then dropped out of the study. At six months, the remaining five women improved significantly in British Isles Lupus Assessment Group ( BILAG ) global scores.
Improvements included decreased fatigue, joint inflammation and serositis; decreased or stable sedimentation rate; increased haemoglobin in four patients; and improved renal and pulmonary function. B lymphocyte levels remained low in all subjects between three and six months, and treatment was well tolerated with no major adverse effects.
"B lymphocyte depletion using rituximab has been introduced for the treatment of several autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, IgM-associated neuropathies, and immune thrombocytopenia, with encouraging early results" the authors write. ( Arthritis and Rheumatism 2002;46:2673-2677. Excerpted from an article by Laurie Barclay MD at WebMD for Medscape Medical News 2002. )
New Website Can Assist Consumers With Internet Health Claims
The Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) has launched a new website called "Operation Cure-All" to educate consumers and businesses about fraudulent health claims on the Internet. It offers tips for consumers on how to recognise health fraud, guidance for businesses on how to market health products and services, and information about FTC law enforcement initiatives.
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The Lupus Group of W.A. (Inc.) does not recommend or endorse any products, drugs, treatments, procedures, medical or health professional in this article. We suggest you discuss this information with your doctor or specialist.