By Lisa Richwine Mon Feb 25, 8:35 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc said on Monday it was pulling television advertisements for its Lipitor cholesterol drug featuring Dr. Robert Jarvik, inventor of the Jarvik artificial heart, because they created "misimpressions."
The ads involving Jarvik had come under scrutiny from a U.S. House of Representative committee as part of an investigation into celebrity endorsements of prescription medicines.
Democratic lawmakers had voiced concern that Jarvik's qualifications were misrepresented in widely seen TV commercials touting the blockbuster drug. They said Jarvik seemed to be dispensing medical advice even though he is not a practicing physician.
Read More
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Clinic targets disease in children
Clinic targets disease in children
By KAWANZA NEWSONknewson@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Feb. 17, 2008
New parents often spend the first year of their child's life anticipating milestones such as smiling, babbling and rolling over onto their tummies.
But for Jennifer and Jeff Roubik, those moments never came.
Instead, their son lay listless. His skin was tinted gray as his kidney function rapidly deteriorated from a genetic disorder called autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.
At 3 months, Gabriel had one kidney removed. A month later, he lost his second kidney and began dialysis.
Each day, his parents wondered if their son would make it to his first birthday.
"Those thoughts kept coming in," said Jeff, 37, of Elkhorn. "He also had heart problems because his blood pressure was out of control. Things were not pretty."
Though researchers still don't understand what causes most pediatric kidney disorders, the opening of a nephrology clinic and lab at the Children's Research Institute affiliated with Children's Hospital in Wauwatosa will soon provide some answers.
Using a $4.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, a group of Medical College of Wisconsin researchers will design studies to better understand the basic molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with pediatric kidney disease so they can develop therapies to prevent and treat the condition.
This work will then be quickly translated into clinical trials using childhood kidney disease patients.
"This is a very exciting time," said Ellis D. Avner, director of the Children's Research Institute and associate dean of research at the Medical College.
Read More
By KAWANZA NEWSONknewson@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Feb. 17, 2008
New parents often spend the first year of their child's life anticipating milestones such as smiling, babbling and rolling over onto their tummies.
But for Jennifer and Jeff Roubik, those moments never came.
Instead, their son lay listless. His skin was tinted gray as his kidney function rapidly deteriorated from a genetic disorder called autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.
At 3 months, Gabriel had one kidney removed. A month later, he lost his second kidney and began dialysis.
Each day, his parents wondered if their son would make it to his first birthday.
"Those thoughts kept coming in," said Jeff, 37, of Elkhorn. "He also had heart problems because his blood pressure was out of control. Things were not pretty."
Though researchers still don't understand what causes most pediatric kidney disorders, the opening of a nephrology clinic and lab at the Children's Research Institute affiliated with Children's Hospital in Wauwatosa will soon provide some answers.
Using a $4.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, a group of Medical College of Wisconsin researchers will design studies to better understand the basic molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with pediatric kidney disease so they can develop therapies to prevent and treat the condition.
This work will then be quickly translated into clinical trials using childhood kidney disease patients.
"This is a very exciting time," said Ellis D. Avner, director of the Children's Research Institute and associate dean of research at the Medical College.
Read More
Monday, February 25, 2008
Adhesions News ARDvark Blog
Fear Of Genetic Discrimination Fuelling Fall In DNA Testing
Alvine Pharmaceuticals Obtains Patents For Celiac Disease Therapies
Phase II Results For Yale's Early Stage Ovarian Cancer Blood Test 99% Accurate
Repros' IND For The Commencement Of Phase III Studies Of Proellex(R) In The Treatment Of Anemia Associated With Uterine Fibroids Is Now Effective
SonoSite Expands M-Turbo Product Line With New M-OB/GYN Office Ultrasound Tool
A Novel HMSH2 Gene Mutation In Colorectal Cancer Patients?
A Strange Case Of Upper Obstructive Syndrome
Inflammatory Bowel Disease May Mimic Gynecological Disorders In Its Clinical Presentation
Congressional Democrats To Draft Bill To Overturn Supreme Court Decision On Medical Devices
Former Kansas AG Kline Petitions Judge For Planned Parenthood Clinic Records
Technology To Defeat Bacterial Infections Shows Positive Results
Beyond The Abstract - Uroplakin III-Delta4 Messenger RNA As A Promising Marker To Identify Nonulcerative Interstitial Cystitis
Alvine Pharmaceuticals Obtains Patents For Celiac Disease Therapies
Phase II Results For Yale's Early Stage Ovarian Cancer Blood Test 99% Accurate
Repros' IND For The Commencement Of Phase III Studies Of Proellex(R) In The Treatment Of Anemia Associated With Uterine Fibroids Is Now Effective
SonoSite Expands M-Turbo Product Line With New M-OB/GYN Office Ultrasound Tool
A Novel HMSH2 Gene Mutation In Colorectal Cancer Patients?
A Strange Case Of Upper Obstructive Syndrome
Inflammatory Bowel Disease May Mimic Gynecological Disorders In Its Clinical Presentation
Congressional Democrats To Draft Bill To Overturn Supreme Court Decision On Medical Devices
Former Kansas AG Kline Petitions Judge For Planned Parenthood Clinic Records
Technology To Defeat Bacterial Infections Shows Positive Results
Beyond The Abstract - Uroplakin III-Delta4 Messenger RNA As A Promising Marker To Identify Nonulcerative Interstitial Cystitis
MIT creates gecko-inspired bandage
Elizabeth Dougherty,
Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and TechnologyFebruary 18, 2008
MIT researchers and colleagues have created a waterproof adhesive bandage inspired by gecko lizards that may soon join sutures and staples as a basic operating room tool for patching up surgical wounds or internal injuries.
Drawing on some of the principles that make gecko feet unique, the surface of the bandage has the same kind of nanoscale hills and valleys that allow the lizards to cling to walls and ceilings. Layered over this landscape is a thin coating of glue that helps the bandage stick in wet environments, such as to heart, bladder or lung tissue. And because the bandage is biodegradable, it dissolves over time and does not have to be removed.
The team is led by MIT Institute Professor Robert Langer and Jeff Karp, an instructor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Both are also faculty members at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST).
The work is described in the Feb. 11 online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"There is a big need for a tape-based medical adhesive," said Karp. For instance, a surgical adhesive tape made from this new material could wrap around and reseal the intestine after the removal of a diseased segment or after a gastric bypass procedure. It could also patch a hole caused by an ulcer. Because it can be folded and unfolded, it has a potential application in minimally invasive surgical procedures that are particularly difficult to suture because they are performed through a very small incision.
Gecko-like dry adhesives have been around since about 2001 but there have been significant challenges to adapt this technology for medical applications given the strict design criteria required. For use in the body, they must be adapted to stick in a wet environment and be constructed from materials customized for medical applications. Such materials must be biocompatible, meaning they do not cause inflammation; biodegradable, meaning they dissolve over time without producing toxins; and elastic, so that they can conform to and stretch with the body's tissues.
The MIT researchers met these requirements by building their medical adhesive with a "biorubber" invented by Karp, Langer and others. Using micropatterning technology--the same technology used to create computer chips--the researchers shaped the biorubber into different hill and valley profiles at nanoscale dimensions. After testing them on intestinal tissue taken from pigs, they selected the stickiest profile, one with pillars spaced just wide enough to grip and interlock with the underlying tissue.
Karp then added a very thin layer of a sugar-based glue, to create a strong bond even to a wet surface. The resulting bandage "is something we never expect to remove," said Karp. Because of that difference, he continued, "we're not mimicking the gecko"--which has sticky feet but can still lift them up to walk--"we are inspired by the gecko to create a patterned interface to enhance the surface area of contact and thus the overall strength of adhesion."
When tested against the intestinal tissue samples from pigs, the nanopatterned adhesive bonds were twice as strong as unpatterned adhesives. In tests of the new adhesive in living rats, the glue-coated nanopatterned adhesive showed over a 100 percent increase in adhesive strength compared to the same material without the glue. Moreover, the rats showed only a mild inflammatory response to the adhesive, a minor reaction that does not need to be overcome for clinical use.
Among other advantages, the adhesive could be infused with drugs designed to release as the biorubber degrades. Further, the elasticity and degradation rate of the biorubber are tunable, as is the pillared landscape. This means that the new adhesives can be customized to have the right elasticity, resilience and grip for different medical applications.
"This is an exciting example of how nanostructures can be controlled, and in so doing, used to create a new family of adhesives," said Langer.
Other MIT authors of the paper are co-first authors Alborz Mahdavi, a former MIT lab technician now at the California Institute of Technology; Lino Ferreira, a former MIT postdoctoral fellow now at the University of Coimbra, Portugal; Jason W. Nichol and Edwin P. Chan, HST postdoctoral fellows; David J.D. Carter and Jeff Borenstein of Draper Laboratory; HST doctoral student Chris Bettinger; and MIT graduate students Siamrut Patanavanich, Loice Chignozha, Eli B. Joseph, Alex Galakatos and Seungpyo Hong, all from the Department of Chemical Engineering. Additional authors are from Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Basel, Switzerland.
The work was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) program of the National Science Foundation, and the MIT-Portugal program.
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/adhesive-0218.html
Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and TechnologyFebruary 18, 2008
MIT researchers and colleagues have created a waterproof adhesive bandage inspired by gecko lizards that may soon join sutures and staples as a basic operating room tool for patching up surgical wounds or internal injuries.
Drawing on some of the principles that make gecko feet unique, the surface of the bandage has the same kind of nanoscale hills and valleys that allow the lizards to cling to walls and ceilings. Layered over this landscape is a thin coating of glue that helps the bandage stick in wet environments, such as to heart, bladder or lung tissue. And because the bandage is biodegradable, it dissolves over time and does not have to be removed.
The team is led by MIT Institute Professor Robert Langer and Jeff Karp, an instructor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Both are also faculty members at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST).
The work is described in the Feb. 11 online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"There is a big need for a tape-based medical adhesive," said Karp. For instance, a surgical adhesive tape made from this new material could wrap around and reseal the intestine after the removal of a diseased segment or after a gastric bypass procedure. It could also patch a hole caused by an ulcer. Because it can be folded and unfolded, it has a potential application in minimally invasive surgical procedures that are particularly difficult to suture because they are performed through a very small incision.
Gecko-like dry adhesives have been around since about 2001 but there have been significant challenges to adapt this technology for medical applications given the strict design criteria required. For use in the body, they must be adapted to stick in a wet environment and be constructed from materials customized for medical applications. Such materials must be biocompatible, meaning they do not cause inflammation; biodegradable, meaning they dissolve over time without producing toxins; and elastic, so that they can conform to and stretch with the body's tissues.
The MIT researchers met these requirements by building their medical adhesive with a "biorubber" invented by Karp, Langer and others. Using micropatterning technology--the same technology used to create computer chips--the researchers shaped the biorubber into different hill and valley profiles at nanoscale dimensions. After testing them on intestinal tissue taken from pigs, they selected the stickiest profile, one with pillars spaced just wide enough to grip and interlock with the underlying tissue.
Karp then added a very thin layer of a sugar-based glue, to create a strong bond even to a wet surface. The resulting bandage "is something we never expect to remove," said Karp. Because of that difference, he continued, "we're not mimicking the gecko"--which has sticky feet but can still lift them up to walk--"we are inspired by the gecko to create a patterned interface to enhance the surface area of contact and thus the overall strength of adhesion."
When tested against the intestinal tissue samples from pigs, the nanopatterned adhesive bonds were twice as strong as unpatterned adhesives. In tests of the new adhesive in living rats, the glue-coated nanopatterned adhesive showed over a 100 percent increase in adhesive strength compared to the same material without the glue. Moreover, the rats showed only a mild inflammatory response to the adhesive, a minor reaction that does not need to be overcome for clinical use.
Among other advantages, the adhesive could be infused with drugs designed to release as the biorubber degrades. Further, the elasticity and degradation rate of the biorubber are tunable, as is the pillared landscape. This means that the new adhesives can be customized to have the right elasticity, resilience and grip for different medical applications.
"This is an exciting example of how nanostructures can be controlled, and in so doing, used to create a new family of adhesives," said Langer.
Other MIT authors of the paper are co-first authors Alborz Mahdavi, a former MIT lab technician now at the California Institute of Technology; Lino Ferreira, a former MIT postdoctoral fellow now at the University of Coimbra, Portugal; Jason W. Nichol and Edwin P. Chan, HST postdoctoral fellows; David J.D. Carter and Jeff Borenstein of Draper Laboratory; HST doctoral student Chris Bettinger; and MIT graduate students Siamrut Patanavanich, Loice Chignozha, Eli B. Joseph, Alex Galakatos and Seungpyo Hong, all from the Department of Chemical Engineering. Additional authors are from Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Basel, Switzerland.
The work was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) program of the National Science Foundation, and the MIT-Portugal program.
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/adhesive-0218.html
Rogue doctor removes woman's ovaries without her knowledge
A Wanganui woman had her ovaries removed without her knowledge by a rogue doctor.
Her case, and the doctor, has been investigated as part of a Health and Disability Commissioner report to be made public on Tuesday. The Wanganui District Health Board (DHB) is expected to be severely criticised.
Fredericka Himmel is terrified of ever going under the knife again. The Wanganui grandmother is still haunted by the work of Dr Roman Hasil.
She says Hasil diagnosed massive adhesions on her ovaries. After he resigned from Wanganui Hospital, his notes were later used by other surgeons and the ovaries were removed. But, examined later, they showed no sign of any other problems.
The gynaecologist - now Australian based - is at the centre of a Health and Disability Commissioner's report to be released publicly on Tuesday..
It is expected to target weaknesses in the Wanganui DHB's hiring process, Hasil's supervision and the way complaints were handled.
Himmel is not the only Wanganui patient to have her ovaries removed unnecessarily.
John Rowan QC confirmed to 3 News a young woman had hers removed by Dr Hasil. But it was not discussed before surgery and Hasil never told her after she woke. She found out months later.
Rowan is organising legal action against the Wanganui DHB over the incident.
Rowan told 3 News he believes more women will come forward after the report is released. Just what legal action will be taken will not be decided until he has read the findings. But he hopes the board will respond in a sensible way.
The DHB will not talk public until the report is released.
Click here for video
Her case, and the doctor, has been investigated as part of a Health and Disability Commissioner report to be made public on Tuesday. The Wanganui District Health Board (DHB) is expected to be severely criticised.
Fredericka Himmel is terrified of ever going under the knife again. The Wanganui grandmother is still haunted by the work of Dr Roman Hasil.
She says Hasil diagnosed massive adhesions on her ovaries. After he resigned from Wanganui Hospital, his notes were later used by other surgeons and the ovaries were removed. But, examined later, they showed no sign of any other problems.
The gynaecologist - now Australian based - is at the centre of a Health and Disability Commissioner's report to be released publicly on Tuesday..
It is expected to target weaknesses in the Wanganui DHB's hiring process, Hasil's supervision and the way complaints were handled.
Himmel is not the only Wanganui patient to have her ovaries removed unnecessarily.
John Rowan QC confirmed to 3 News a young woman had hers removed by Dr Hasil. But it was not discussed before surgery and Hasil never told her after she woke. She found out months later.
Rowan is organising legal action against the Wanganui DHB over the incident.
Rowan told 3 News he believes more women will come forward after the report is released. Just what legal action will be taken will not be decided until he has read the findings. But he hopes the board will respond in a sensible way.
The DHB will not talk public until the report is released.
Click here for video
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
METHYLENE BLUE
http://www.drugs.com/cons/methylene-blue.html
METHYLENE BLUE (Systemic)
display_ad(3);
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.—
Urolene Blue
Generic name product may be available in the U.S. and Canada.
Other commonly used names are aniline violet , methylthionine chloride , and tetramethylthionine chloride .
Category
Antimethemoglobinemic
Diagnostic aid, tissue dye
Description
Methylene (METH-i-leen) blue is used to treat a condition called methemoglobinemia. This condition occurs when the blood cannot deliver oxygen where it is needed in the body. Methylene blue is also used as a dye to stain certain parts of the body before or during surgery.
Oral
Tablets (U.S.)
Parenteral
Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For methylene blue, the following should be considered:
Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to methylene blue. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy—Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals.
Breast-feeding—It is not known whether methylene blue passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children—Babies are especially sensitive to the effects of methylene blue. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.
Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing the use of methylene blue in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of methylene blue. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency—Methylene blue may cause anemia or make methemoglobinemia worse
Kidney disease—In patients with kidney disease methylene blue may accumulate in the body; smaller doses of this medicine may be needed
Methemoglobinemia to treat cyanide toxicity—Methylene blue may make cyanide toxicity worse by increasing the amount of cyanide in the blood
Proper Use of This Medicine
For patients taking the tablet form of this medicine:
Take tablets after meals with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
Take this medicine only as directed . Do not take more of it and do not take it more often than recommended on the label unless directed by your doctor. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.
Dosing—The dose of methylene blue will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of methylene blue. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
For oral dosage form (tablets):
For methemoglobinemia:
Adults and children—100 to 300 milligrams (mg) a day.
For injection dosage form:
For methemoglobinemia:
Adults and children—Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 1 to 2 mg per kilogram (kg) (0.45 to 0.9 mg per pound) of body weight, or 25 to 50 mg per square meter of body surface area, injected into a vein over a period of five minutes. A second dose may be given after one hour, if needed.
Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage—To store this medicine:
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store away from heat and direct light.
Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
Keep the medicine from freezing. Do not refrigerate.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
Before you have any medical tests, tell the doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Anxiety; back pain; bluish fingernails, lips, or skin; chest pain; chills; confusion; difficulty in breathing; dizziness; headache; leg pain; nausea and vomiting; severe sweating; stomach pain; trembling; unusual tiredness or weakness
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
More common
Greenish blue to blue discoloration of urine and stools
Less common
Diarrhea; nausea and vomiting; painful urination or increased need to urinate (with tablet form)
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Developed: 05/27/1994
The information contained in the Thomson Healthcare (Micromedex) products as delivered by Drugs.com is intended as an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you.
The use of the Thomson Healthcare products is at your sole risk. These products are provided "AS IS" and "as available" for use, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Thomson Healthcare and Drugs.com make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, usefulness or completeness of any of the information contained in the products. Additionally, THOMSON HEALTHCARE MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE OPINIONS OR OTHER SERVICE OR DATA YOU MAY ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR USE AS A RESULT OF USE OF THE THOMSON HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED. Thomson Healthcare does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the Thomson Healthcare products.
_______________________________________
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/methyleneblue_cp.htm
Methylene Blue
Methylene Blue is Phenothiazin-5-ium, 3,7-bis (dimethylamino)-,chloride, trihydrate. It will produce two opposite actions on hemoglobin. Low concentrations will convert methemoglobin to hemoglobin. High concentrations convert the ferrous iron of reduced hemoglobin to ferric iron which results in the formation of methemoglobin.
Methylene Blue must be injected intravenously very slowly over a period of several minutes to prevent local high concentration of the compound from producing additional methemoglobin.
Do not exceed recommended dosage.
_____________________________________
Both of these links contain extensive information on the substance in question with SprayGel Adhesion Barrier.
METHYLENE BLUE (Systemic)
display_ad(3);
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.—
Urolene Blue
Generic name product may be available in the U.S. and Canada.
Other commonly used names are aniline violet , methylthionine chloride , and tetramethylthionine chloride .
Category
Antimethemoglobinemic
Diagnostic aid, tissue dye
Description
Methylene (METH-i-leen) blue is used to treat a condition called methemoglobinemia. This condition occurs when the blood cannot deliver oxygen where it is needed in the body. Methylene blue is also used as a dye to stain certain parts of the body before or during surgery.
Oral
Tablets (U.S.)
Parenteral
Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For methylene blue, the following should be considered:
Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to methylene blue. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy—Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals.
Breast-feeding—It is not known whether methylene blue passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children—Babies are especially sensitive to the effects of methylene blue. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.
Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing the use of methylene blue in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of methylene blue. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency—Methylene blue may cause anemia or make methemoglobinemia worse
Kidney disease—In patients with kidney disease methylene blue may accumulate in the body; smaller doses of this medicine may be needed
Methemoglobinemia to treat cyanide toxicity—Methylene blue may make cyanide toxicity worse by increasing the amount of cyanide in the blood
Proper Use of This Medicine
For patients taking the tablet form of this medicine:
Take tablets after meals with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
Take this medicine only as directed . Do not take more of it and do not take it more often than recommended on the label unless directed by your doctor. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.
Dosing—The dose of methylene blue will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of methylene blue. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
For oral dosage form (tablets):
For methemoglobinemia:
Adults and children—100 to 300 milligrams (mg) a day.
For injection dosage form:
For methemoglobinemia:
Adults and children—Dose is based on body weight or size and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 1 to 2 mg per kilogram (kg) (0.45 to 0.9 mg per pound) of body weight, or 25 to 50 mg per square meter of body surface area, injected into a vein over a period of five minutes. A second dose may be given after one hour, if needed.
Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage—To store this medicine:
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store away from heat and direct light.
Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
Keep the medicine from freezing. Do not refrigerate.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
Before you have any medical tests, tell the doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Anxiety; back pain; bluish fingernails, lips, or skin; chest pain; chills; confusion; difficulty in breathing; dizziness; headache; leg pain; nausea and vomiting; severe sweating; stomach pain; trembling; unusual tiredness or weakness
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
More common
Greenish blue to blue discoloration of urine and stools
Less common
Diarrhea; nausea and vomiting; painful urination or increased need to urinate (with tablet form)
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Developed: 05/27/1994
The information contained in the Thomson Healthcare (Micromedex) products as delivered by Drugs.com is intended as an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you.
The use of the Thomson Healthcare products is at your sole risk. These products are provided "AS IS" and "as available" for use, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Thomson Healthcare and Drugs.com make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, usefulness or completeness of any of the information contained in the products. Additionally, THOMSON HEALTHCARE MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE OPINIONS OR OTHER SERVICE OR DATA YOU MAY ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR USE AS A RESULT OF USE OF THE THOMSON HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED. Thomson Healthcare does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the Thomson Healthcare products.
_______________________________________
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/methyleneblue_cp.htm
Methylene Blue
Methylene Blue is Phenothiazin-5-ium, 3,7-bis (dimethylamino)-,chloride, trihydrate. It will produce two opposite actions on hemoglobin. Low concentrations will convert methemoglobin to hemoglobin. High concentrations convert the ferrous iron of reduced hemoglobin to ferric iron which results in the formation of methemoglobin.
Methylene Blue must be injected intravenously very slowly over a period of several minutes to prevent local high concentration of the compound from producing additional methemoglobin.
Do not exceed recommended dosage.
_____________________________________
Both of these links contain extensive information on the substance in question with SprayGel Adhesion Barrier.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Scarring gel in spotlight
By JANINE RANKIN - Manawatu Standard
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
The one in five Palmerston North women and girls who suffer from endometriosis need not be alarmed at reports that a product used in surgical treatment could make their condition worse.
The surgical spray gel at the centre of a Wellington gynaecologist's concerns that it causes internal scarring isn't widely used in Palmerston North.
MidCentral Health and private specialist Digby Ngan Kee says he doesn't use the product and isn't aware of any other surgeons locally who use it.
"It is a very expensive product, and there is no good evidence that it is effective," he said.
Wellington gynaecologist Hanifa Koya says she's stopped using the gel since she's had endometriosis patients returning for repeat surgery after its use, to repair the sort of scarring the product was supposed to prevent.
Endometriosis New Zealand chief executive Deborah Bush, who originally set up the national support group in Palmerston North, said she didn't believe women should be alarmed.
The evidence that the gel actually caused scarring over and above the damage done by endometriosis was anecdotal rather than scientific, she said.
"It's a horrible disease, and we don't know what causes it. Surgeons can excise the disease, but that doesn't mean a woman won't develop more adhesions."
In women with endometriosis the tissue that developed in the uterus each month also formed in other parts of the abdomen causing pain, scarring, and often damaging fertility.
Ms Bush said although some surgeons were reporting an increased rate of women coming back for repeat surgery, there was no good evidence the scarring was a result of the gel rather than a result of surgery or the disease.
Dr Ngan Kee said the numbers of women returning for surgery were still too small to give an accurate view. Women struggling with endometriosis will be able to attend a seminar at Palmerston North Hospital next month when Ms Bush, a gynaecologist, and an authority on nutrition and fertility will talk about latest treatments and self-help options
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
The one in five Palmerston North women and girls who suffer from endometriosis need not be alarmed at reports that a product used in surgical treatment could make their condition worse.
The surgical spray gel at the centre of a Wellington gynaecologist's concerns that it causes internal scarring isn't widely used in Palmerston North.
MidCentral Health and private specialist Digby Ngan Kee says he doesn't use the product and isn't aware of any other surgeons locally who use it.
"It is a very expensive product, and there is no good evidence that it is effective," he said.
Wellington gynaecologist Hanifa Koya says she's stopped using the gel since she's had endometriosis patients returning for repeat surgery after its use, to repair the sort of scarring the product was supposed to prevent.
Endometriosis New Zealand chief executive Deborah Bush, who originally set up the national support group in Palmerston North, said she didn't believe women should be alarmed.
The evidence that the gel actually caused scarring over and above the damage done by endometriosis was anecdotal rather than scientific, she said.
"It's a horrible disease, and we don't know what causes it. Surgeons can excise the disease, but that doesn't mean a woman won't develop more adhesions."
In women with endometriosis the tissue that developed in the uterus each month also formed in other parts of the abdomen causing pain, scarring, and often damaging fertility.
Ms Bush said although some surgeons were reporting an increased rate of women coming back for repeat surgery, there was no good evidence the scarring was a result of the gel rather than a result of surgery or the disease.
Dr Ngan Kee said the numbers of women returning for surgery were still too small to give an accurate view. Women struggling with endometriosis will be able to attend a seminar at Palmerston North Hospital next month when Ms Bush, a gynaecologist, and an authority on nutrition and fertility will talk about latest treatments and self-help options
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