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New Silver Nanoparticle Skin Gel For Healing Burns
Scientists in India are reporting successful laboratory tests of a new and potentially safer alternative to silver-based gels applied to the skin of burn patients to treat infections. With names like silver sulfadiazine and silver nitrate, these germ-fighters save lives and speed healing. The researchers describe gel composed of silver nanoparticles - each 1/50,000th the width of a human hair - that appears more effective than these traditional gels. Their study is scheduled for the Aug. 3 issue of ACS" Molecular Pharmaceutics, a bi-monthly journal.

Daily Women's Health Policy Report Summarizes Studies Examining Ovarian Cancer
The following summarizes recent research related to ovarian cancer.~ Early periods linked to lower survival: Women who start menstruating at an early age or experience more menstrual cycles over their lifetimes appear to have a lower chance of surviving ovarian cancer, according to a study published this month in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention, Reuters reports. For the study, researcher Cheryl Robbins and colleagues analyzed the medical data of 410 ovarian cancer patients who participated in the Cancer and Steroid Hormone study between 1980 and 1982. The analysis found that the women who had their first period before age 12 had a 51% greater risk of dying than the women who began menstruating at age 14 or older. The women who had the highest number of lifetime menstrual cycles had a 67% greater risk of dying during follow-up than the women with the lowest number of cycles (Reuters, 7/24).~ Lung cancer risk higher for women after hysterectomy with ovary removal: Women who have had hysterectomies in which their uterus and both ovaries are removed to prevent ovarian cancer appear to have a higher risk for developing lung cancer, according to researchers at the University of Montreal, the New York Times reports. The researchers discovered the connection while looking for links between lung cancer and hormones for a study published in May in the International Journal of Cancer. Although they did not find a relationship between lung cancer risk and hormonal factors such as menstruation patterns, child-bearing or breastfeeding, the researchers found that women who had medically induced menopause had 1.92 times greater risk of developing lung cancer than women who had natural menopause (Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 7/24).~ Small tumors present for years before detection: Minute-sized ovarian tumors form and remain in the Fallopian tubes for an average of four years before they grow large enough to be detected, which might suggest why ovarian cancer frequently is diagnosed in its later stages, according to a study published in the journal PLoS Medicine, Reuters reports. For the study, lead researcher Patrick Brown of Stanford University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and colleagues analyzed the tumors of women whose Fallopian tubes and ovaries were removed because they had family histories of and genetic risk for ovarian cancer. They found small tumors -- most less than three millimeters in diameter -- that previously had not been detected in the women. In a statement, Brown said, "There is a long window of opportunity for potentially lifesaving early detection of this disease, but the tumor spreads while it is still much too small to be detected by any of the tests that have been developed or proposed to date." According to Reuters, blood tests for the compound called CA-125 may help guide therapy but do not indicate whether a woman has a tumor (Reuters, 7/28).
News of the day
Depression Medications May Reduce Male Fertility
As many as half of all men taking the antidepressant medication paroxetine (trade names Seroxat, Paxil) may have increased sperm DNA fragmentation -- a predictor of compromised fertility. Research led by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center also found that the changes are reversible with normal levels of sperm returning after discontinuation of the drug.
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Advances In Genomic Medicine Will Mean Massive Changes For The NHS It Is Now Time To Prepare For Them - Lords Science Committee

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has published a report on Genomic Medicine which argues that recent developments in genomic science stemming from the sequencing of the human genome represent a unique opportunity for real advances in medical care and that the Government and the NHS must take a range of steps to ensure that these advances are realised. The Committee says that the Government should now produce a new White Paper on genomic medicine - pointing out that the last White Paper on this issue was published in 2003 and dealt mainly with the diagnosis and management of rare single-gene disorders. The potential impact of "genomic medicine" has moved on significantly since then and now has implications for patient care across the NHS and a range of common, genetically complex diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The report recommends that the new White Paper should include details on: * How the Department of Health will facilitate the translation of advances in genomic science into clinical practice, including the operational changes needed to bring genetic testing into mainstream clinical practice. * A roadmap for how such developments will be incorporated into the NHS. * Proposals for a programme of sustained long-term funding to support these measures. A range of genetic tests are already being used within the NHS to improve the diagnosis and treatment of a range of common illnesses. However, the Committee found several barriers to the translation of new tests from invention through to use within the NHS. To alleviate these problems, the Committee recommends that the National Institute for Health Research ring-fence funding through a Health Technology Assessment programme to fund research into the use of genomic tests within the NHS, and that the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research should be tasked with outlining a strategic vision to overcome the translational barriers identified. The report also recommends that the Government push for the re-classification of genetic tests within European law from "low" to "medium" risk to ensure that all tests are subject to pre-market review to prove their effectiveness before they are available for use either by the NHS or directly by consumers. The Committee looks specifically at the growing market for Direct to Consumer Tests (DCTs) and raises concerns about the effect of consumers receiving DCT results via the internet without proper medical advice to put those results in context. They also point out that because most companies that offer DCTs are based abroad the Advertising Standards Agency has no power to police bogus claims made by DCT providers for their products. To counter these problems the Committee supports the Human Genetics Commissions work to develop a voluntary code of practice for DCT providers. The code of practice should require firms to publish details of the effectiveness of the tests they offer. It should also include guidelines for the provision of appropriate pre- and post test counselling to help consumers interpret the results of DCTs. Genetic tests are placing increasing demands on doctors and nurses in mainstream specialties who are poorly equipped to use the tests effectively for diagnosis and treatment The Committee recognises that ensuring NHS staff have adequate training in genomic medicine will be vital. They recommend that training in using and interpreting genetic tests should be an integral part of training for healthcare workers. The Committee found significant inequalities in the provision of genetic services across the NHS, for investigation and management of both rare and common diseases, due to the lack of a national policy on commissioning of genetics services. Significant changes to the operational systems within the NHS are vital to ensure that an equitable and cost effective service is provided across the country including the need to consolidate laboratory services, introduce commissioning routes for new genetic tests, and increase efforts to change the way that genetic and patient health data is stored and used for diagnosis and for research. This will require the recruitment of bioinformaticians to facilitate the process, and the establishment of a new institute of biomedical informatics. The report recognises that there are privacy concerns about the retention and use of genetic data as well as apprehension about how the data may be used by, for example the insurance industry. To alleviate privacy concerns the Committee recommends that the Information Commissioner should publish a set of clear guidelines for researchers handling genetic data. The Committee suggests the Government should work with the Association of British Insurers to draw up a new agreement on the use of genetic tests results for insurance purposes beyond the current moratorium which runs out in 2014. They also recommend that beyond 2014 insurers should be prevented from asking for details of tests results carried out while the current moratorium was in force. Commenting Lord Patel, who chaired the Inquiry, said: "Genomic medicine will clearly have a huge impact on health provision and the NHS in particular over the next few years. It is an ever developing technology that presents both challenges and exciting opportunities for health care. "The Government must now take the lead on this issue and produce a new White Paper on genomic medicine. It has been six years since the last one and in this area times move on very quickly. It is time for a comprehensive statement from the Government on how genomic medicine will be incorporated into the NHS, including details of the extra training doctors and nurses will need in this area. "We have concerns about the growth of "at home" Direct to Consumer Tests. Without proper qualified interpretation results of genetic and genomic tests could cause people to worry unnecessarily and place new demands on NHS services. It is time firms offering these tests were required to provide counselling and guidance on interpreting the raw results they provide." Notes 1. The report Genomic Medicine is available from The Stationery Office, House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, 2nd Report of 2008/09, HL Paper 107. 2. The report will be available online shortly after publication at: http://www.parliament.uk/hlscience 3. Lord Patel will be discussing some of the key recommendations in the report following publication in a YouTube video which will be available at: http://www.youtube.com/ukparliament House of Lords


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