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digestdrugs
THE DRUG DEN
Autumn 2013
A summary of the latest drugs being tried, tested and brought to market
Rosehip powder may reduce arthritis pain
The future:
artificial bones
made from
umbilical cord
stem cells
A new biomaterial that enables
bone tissue to be generated from
umbilical cord stem cells has been
patented by a team in Spain. The
material comprises an activated
carbon cloth support for cells
that differentiate giving rise to a
product that can promote bone
growth.
Lab results are promising but
the method hasn’t yet been tried
in animals. It is hoped that in the
future the biomaterial could help
repair bone and replace lost
cartilage.
Rosehip powder – Rosa L Canina – can
reduce inflammation and pain in people
with arthritis and help protect the joints
of active people, according to two new
studies.
Rosehip’s powerful anti-inflammatory
action was thrust into the spotlight at
The Centre of Sport & Exercise Science
at Sheffield Hallam University, where
scientists found that it helped decrease
joint pain and joint resistance in the
knee.
“More than two thirds of the men who took
standardised Rosehip powder experienced an
improvement in passive joint flexion and more
than 90% recorded improvements in knee
extension,” says Prof Marc Cohen who was involved
in the study.
New prescription powers for physios and podiatrists
Physiotherapists and podiatrists
are to receive prescription powers
in the UK for the first time,
meaning easier access to treatment
for people with arthritis.
The UK is the first country in
the world where physios and
podiatrists can prescribe medication
to their patients, without consulting
GPs – from summer 2014 – but first
they’ll have to complete a training course approved
by the Health and Care Professions Council.
Ketoprofen vs ibuprofen
and diclofenac
Ketoprofen, a non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drug
(NSAID) seems to be
more effective than
ibuprofen or diclofenac in
easing pain and reducing
inflammation in people
with muscle and joint conditions.
Published in Clinical & Experimental Rheumatology, a
large review of the literature by Italian scientists identified
13 randomised controlled trials involving 898 people who
had rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing
spondylitis, low back pain or shoulder pain.
A close look at the research showed that ketoprofen
seemed to be significantly more effective than ibuprofen
or diclofenac.
“The efficacy of orally administered ketoprofen in
relieving moderate-to-severe pain and improving
functional status and general condition was significantly
better than that of ibuprofen and/or diclofenac,” say the
researchers.
ARTHRITIS
Another study,
this time in
Denmark, found
that high levels of
Rosehip seeds
helped reduce
inflammation in
people (and
animals) with
inflammatory
arthritis. The
team found that a
50:50 ratio of Rosehip shells and lipid-rich seeds
was the most effective at reducing inflammation
levels.
Over 30 scientific studies now support Rosehip as
a natural anti-inflammatory that could help relieve
arthritis pain and increase joint mobility.
It is hoped that the changes
will improve access to medicines
and allow more self-management
of conditions such as arthritis.
“Physiotherapists and
podiatrists are highly skilled
professionals and these changes
will allow them to give better
care to the millions of people
with acute and long-term
conditions,” says Norman Lamb, care and support
minister.
Painkiller increases heart attack
in people with heart conditions
A common painkiller increases the risk
of heart attack and stroke in people
with serious underlying heart conditions.
Those with circulatory
problems, heart disease,
heart failure, or a previous
stroke or heart attack
should stop using diclofenac,
says the Medicines and
Healthcare Products
Regulatory Agency
(MHRA).
Trade names that
diclofenac is known under include
Defenac, Diclofex, Diclomax, Dyloject,
Econac, Enstar, Flamrase, Flamatak,
Motifene, Rheumatac, Rhumalgan,
Volsaid and Voltarol.
The drug is a non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and
alleviates pain and lowers inflammation
so is commonly used to treat arthritis
and pain after surgery.
“Those with underlying
heart conditions currently
taking diclofenac should
speak to their GP or
pharmacist at their next
routine visit to consider an
alternative pain relief
treatment,” says Dr Sarah
Branch from the MHRA.
“Patients with certain cardiovascular
risk factors such as high blood pressure,
raised cholesterol, diabetes and
smoking should only use diclofenac
after careful consideration with their
GP or pharmacist.”
www.arthritisdigest.co.uk
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